fc • % 

•«. 1 










J 

. « • 


. t J 

V ’% 
' ' ? 


r n i i,i 


» C ' '• ». I *» « T 

<« f y » « . v .> u \ / » ; ■ 

r. • f J « 

■ f at I (< il IM ' • >1* jii 

• • \ ' 4 • < * ». « I • 

• <1 4 « « i , i . )( <1 1 

’* ». if * < .♦ * y- • i it f 

u ••/ . * i.y -r #», *4 . 


•1 1 JK 1 


. * IV' . 

' V ’ < 

■ V s 
iUS 

• 

» . 




* '7 


iMlii-B 1 


*4 • • M 

• i v \: A 


< / * ,-»« 
'■;jo 


rgP 

t /I IV 


I *1 if 

II / / 
•* .1 1 • 


•» .1 y • 

‘ ' ' / 


• . 

. {«■* r A. 


Stiti 


• At*. 


'« » . i . « < » , 4 i „ I 

I .1 ! -J k I • vl, jJ , i J f . 

SfC • V - « . ■ y • * n I 

* ' « f ■ * . ,1 * • . < » V ' 


jaa 

% ' t* 


Q* '«.M ?\ #• »'VA- ; 

» • • » ,<t ‘ ' i • K t tk. , 


‘ i* ' 

■wfr 

i • .* » » 

' n * I . <* • 

. A. * 

• /« « • 

/ » v ■ 


«/ v/ >? ,t,t * »;<<:•' 

* 

* * *. »• 1 • \ i i X V . i ; I 

« . * 4 * • • . \ * i M j> 

M *1 - i i( , V *: , f i< r«4 , 

•; l ■» r i y if if V . . 4? ;4i .* 

V/». ' / *. * 4 . * !\r i 

i • » * I ? « 4 fclf »t i V /' 


. v - • I ■ s H V 

• . • ».* 1# . A / 1 .T* L IV 
• >1 .1 »** «» • * v ». I 

. fi« j* . . « . , .« 4 •¥ * . •> 


• . * » » i < , 4 • I i i j 4 

• f Jl l , ’ > « k«« 

■ • 1 ■'v »ri. f « j 

•4 l JL A < M J«/« r f J* 


’> J if 1 J i ?' « ■ a > \ / \ /•- 
V3 / v . i i 4 *t *. • J Af 


v ,n ' y i > 

» * v «f . f ; 4 .;?*? f * v • 

» » > 4 « ; 4 . i . 4 « t(; 

• i 1 1 » , i i ' i > i . i . r 

• • * # ' « i ; • i< if «l i 

r .» i ■ • * y * ,i f> 

• • • * it i u « < ,• < f 


« '<.» r. 

<■ « . . » . f r i » »* «* i 


ij « I *1 •> y» » J I * #i & * ; / 

-• 5 <^ V* v S*'rii« r> v 

v l • t. * .*• r, * 

* ♦ A# * 4 *\ 4‘ ’ ,* 1 1*; .# M ’* «. * 

*‘5 f * i •;! : , -J t * »•’. 


‘i. w' 

r> » ■* V.- 


It « • it 


- V . » •< * f • * •' • 

. >1% ■*.’)*, (J fi 


... . J •* VI 

K AfVjf * JJ/WV 
ri,','' / . rr- ( y. 


. 1 . / A« 


* . ► •. f 

* k * : 


* » . i ■.» * < , *t ' 4 I* i‘i « t 

v < <t • •»#/**«># 

■ i « • «. • * * * 1 4 . 4 . 

r t « i i ;l \ . 4,1 * ■ 1 . t • * 

* % >' . I '♦ <4 /• f 

• 1 * • / • i \ 

"• t« v* < i • i ' ■ 

' i ■ « i * • . « • 

’■ V i , *, • • • . 4 I (if .' 

•• * ¥ ■ 4 : i -.i i 

... . • 

.tbvrJiffTrtSiffUlfi 

r\( f * ii>I pc arf. ■ < Mill 
• u it • : /. * « m ^ t .• » , i « - 

■ • i i * i •••i \ .»i< 


> 1; * , » n . 1 i.f ,i f 


iVTS 


Kvwi 

u v> 


X&\Ti 


Iffi f 

niln 

. * * 




I.H .‘v 
f:\A 

V > ?« 


1 . V * * « 

• * 1 • * 
•j Vm »v ! 


? ■ C X • ’ 

rii'ii/ 1 

i - j 

* »• .» f. . 

V 

•I< > “• 


rn.,* 

>: 

?3n 




















</ A 

y 

<v A 
o ^ 



% 

* 




A- V 1 

O. * ^ 

^ ^ t ' 

<* -0 
CT 

9^ 9 ' - ° A *C‘ V S 

a^> X A fiL ^ . * 4* . * 

% C** * jC^|A © X>, X x ' 

•f * : &pg§fc /. * v z ^ 

** - *'<4 ~ c ^ _ «r/// 

% . * 

, ^ <0 . y y 0 * K * ‘\ 

C - ~ * *>> ” <nV a* 1 ** A 

A j 0 ° **M^* \. . 9 * •" 



* ° 1 ' * ' s * 9 T C ^>. * 0 N O . - - 

> S s X > , 9 ^ * * * o, *c 

x ^ .yy A ^ v av- 


* t- ‘ * 4 ’<*> 



S " o^ « v 1 * « ^ 

0° v' /T??^ -f ^ 

. N J^// /y>2L * .j' 

< 'MkB^ *A 




* 5 * 0 ' -^ v.„,"% 


yx : » 

^ J . J 


y «J* X *> — - « 

(|1‘ s » ♦ , Sso’i 

V ,'' S *> A 0 ‘ *'' 

'V y 


\\* 

a> 



^ ^ - 


s s ,a0 V < J 0 * l. ’* 

c°‘ '* i x- ^ y c»“^.- 0 . 

OP •* *■ * 

SH*\ n * f\ _ 

V ° \ 0 ^ * 

> _ ‘ * 

<* O 

^ .o- 



* ^a/A5F * \ N v. ✓ W;vy > ^ <* 

> - v ^ A V ? ' \ v v 

•%. ^ = a> 

C /' 

v <i. 


<$<k, o 


lV <a„ 





• O- » 

C^ > '^myv^ ^ . y* 

'?/, ''' . . s s . , , A, 

• °- o°V ^ 

/ ^V ^ **111/, Xs*-> 

o 0 




,x Xt- 



+ Jl V * 

« X, e V> * . « 

V V 

.J /""‘•A “* s ,*' '* 




*> V 

* ' * * * s s «^y 

^ r0 V S«' ** 

^ VJ ^ 



x^: & '% 

^ ^ <-> '^fmzstr 

o„a* o, *, s' ,0 

V^ X c oN C 4> *o * ^ v * V,< 

■, .A ° c. 0 ^ 



*v- 

V 

o g> ~ 

D *$■ , * 

■ v .. - c 



a* .’. .^jhnrm&T 


>* .0° * 
.9* » ’ * ° , 'J ’ ' 

** *Wr **. 

*\ V ^ < 



' 0 • ‘ A A 0 K C ^ '''^To ' ^ 
,# ^ °o C °V 



v\V d 
-NT 


>« 


vl v . ^ ^C^Tv 

< ^X\A> 

O ,TN ^ . ,_ _ 

« - ^.pfTY^, <■ oo 

N°°- '/iHF* ^ ■* 

■5 o, *JW** A 




t> * 



' “ * ' * .A 


•*- ^ c ^ 


x 0 ®,. 


i %-. t s 


« y • » ^ * " 1 * v ^; ' - * 

i * ^ \V> « 

ll ^ 7 

, ./ ^ Vw 

,0^" V* ' ’ 1 ’ * -, ^ • vi V ’ C 0 N 0 ♦ ^'o 

0 * * r_ Jr •-—■'• 

**- ^ v* * 

#<U * 



c0 c ]> 4*- 

O^* * ' * 0 / ^x 

A* <p. 


An r ~ <<• 

h\ <SM 


o o' 













JOE SAXTON IN JAPAN. 



/ 



JOE SAXTON 


JAPAN. 


A STORY OF THE EAST AND THE WEST 


BY 



/ 

D. A. Selden, M. D. 

it 

Author of Letters from Japan. 


Baltimore: 

The Deustch Company, Printers, 



1897. 

V 


Copyright, 1897, 
By W. G. Day. 


All rights reserved. 


TO 

Lieutenant K. NAGAO, 

IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY. 


THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. 

































































































JOE SAXTON IN JAPAN. 


I. 


ARL STEINBERG, a native of Ger- 
many, was one of a numerous family, and 
but for the accident of being a younger 
son might perhaps have had another title be- 
fore his name than that of Doctor of Medicine, 
from a college in Berlin. 

Having attained his degree and pursued for a 
time some special studies, with practice in the 
hospital, he went to London to settle down. 

After a year of struggle for recognition in his 
already overcrowded profession, in that great 
center, without success, and hoping to find a 
fresher field elsewhere, he left England, having 
acquired a fair command of the language, and 
with a somewhat depleted purse, he set sail for 
America. 

Locating in an Atlantic sea-board city, he 
soon discovered that the conditions were not 
materially different from those he had left in 




2 


JOE SAXTON 


England. His painstaking ability met with 
more ready recognition, in some respects, but 
he had greater aptitude in collecting scientific 
data, than bills for services rendered, and his 
finances running low, he decided at last to 
return to Germany and enter the service of the 
Fatherland. 

A natural disposition to rove, and a romantic 
fondness for adventure, took him into the navy. 

After a tour of duty at home, he was ordered 
to a man-of-war, then cruising in the China 
Sea. 

His orders were of such a nature as to per- 
mit him to delay en route, and he improved his 
opportunities by picking up such information on 
the way as might be of use in his new field of 
practice in the Orient. 

The spring of 189- found him in Japan, 
studying the language, and at the same time 
acquiring such other knowledge of the manners 
and customs of that interesting country as might 
be practicable. 

During the long voyage across the Pacific 
from San Francisco to Yokohama, the German 
Doctor became well known to everybody on 
board the ship, from the captain to the babes 
in the steerage. Even the sheep, in cages on 
the upper deck, carried to supply fresh mutton 


IN JAPAN. 


3 


on the trip, though diminishing steadily in num- 
bers, day by day, as the knots were reeled off 
the log, seemed to recognize his presence, and 
would stop chewing their cuds, or munching the 
straw of their beds, to listen to his kindly greet- 
ing. The two Holstein cows, in their narrow 
stalls further aft, learned to stretch out their 
necks and turn their heads to the limit of their 
liberty to move, watching his approach from 
far down the deck. 

Often, in joining the ship’s doctor in his daily 
rounds, he would wander forward among the 
steerage passengers, accompanied perhaps by 
some lady from the saloon, carrying sweets or 
delicacies to the little half-naked children of the 
coolies returning to their native lands. 

But it was in the evening, after dinner, when 
all had come on deck to enjoy the moonlight 
on a tropical sea, that the young German was 
in his happiest element. 

With a voice of that peculiar quality more 
characteristic of the African than the Teuton 
race, and highly cultivated, he would start up 
some dreamy song, and no ice of strangeness 
could long remain unmelted within hearing. 
All who could sing, even a little, soon joined 
in. One would lead at one time, another at 
another; but, when it came to the Watch on 


4 


JOE SAXTON 


the Rhine, or other patriotic song, Carl always 
carried the air, and with a fervor that made one 
feel that his greatest ambition was either to 
live or to die for his country. His repertory of 
college and sea songs, love ditties and operas 
seemed to be unlimited. 

Among the others on board the good ship 
was an Englishman, George, who though one 
of the youngest of the party, came to be called 
the “Papa” of the “Peking Family.” George 
was a good fellow when once you knew him. 
He could not, of course, help being an English- 
man; and some of the company thought he 
might become quite a man of the world by the 
time he finished his journey around it. 

A party of half a dozen American naval 
officers were on board, going out, like the Ger- 
man doctor, to join ships on the Asiatic station* 
A jolly crew they were altogether. One espe- 
cially, who will not be forgotten by those who 
ever have the good fortune to sail with him on 
an ocean liner or a man-of-war, was a lieutenant 
fresh from duty at the Naval Academy and 
“society,” going out for a second tour in the 
Orient, and assigned to a ship in Korea. He 
was a good singer, and well versed in both 
occidental and oriental music. He was good 
natured and witty, a little inclined to stoutness. 


IN JAPAN. 


5 


but every pound of his flesh worth its weight in 
gold. 

A favorite song he frequently sang — always 
“by request,” and which nearly all learned be- 
fore the party broke up — was a charming little 
ditty by another naval officer, called “Oyucha- 
san,” and adapted to be sung to the air of 
“ Rosalie.” 


SONG — BY BOSTWICK. 


I. 

“I call her the belle of Japan, 

Of Japan. 

Her name is Oyucha-San, 
Yuchasan. 

Such tenderness lies, 

In her soft almond eyes, 

I tell you she’s just ‘Ichi ban.’”* 

CHORUS. 

“I care not what others may say, 
I’m in love with Oyuchasan; 

Ichi ban, 

In Japan, 

I’m in love with Oyuchasan.” 


♦Japanese for “No. 1.” 


6 


JOE SAXTON 


The song ended with this verse : 

IX. 

“You may call this a Japanese craze, 

A craze. 

You may say a weak mind it displays, 
Displays ; 

But go to Japan, 

See Oyuchasan, 

And you’ll have it the rest of your days.” 


II. 



OE SAXTON was a character. Ameri- 
can born, over six feet in height, 
fair-haired, with blue eyes, he was 
about the same age as the “Dutch Doctor,” 
as he called Steinberg. Between the two there 
was resemblance enough to warrant a supposi- 
tion that they came originally from the same 
stock. All that was positively known, how- 
ever, of Joe’s ancestors was that they had 
come from England before the American revo- 
lution. 



IN JAPAN. 


7 


Born on a farm in a western State, his first 
adventure was to run away from home with a 
circus. For a time he assisted in carrying 
water, rolling carpets, etc., for the performers 
in the ring. Soon, however, he learned a few 
of their “tricks,” and displaying some nerve, 
he was chosen for the “top-piece” in the 
“human pyramid”; but, growing rapidly, and 
becoming too heavy for that exalted position, 
he was “promoted downwards,” as Joe put it, 
until, striking the tan-bark, he began perform- 
ing on his own account. 

This took about two years and a half. By 
this time Joe discovered the fact that there was 
a good deal more gilt than gold in the circus 
business; and not exactly liking the texture of 
the silk in the cracker of the ring-master’s whip, 
nor appreciating his playful skill in “cutting 
behind ” into a group of performers clad in the 
thinnest of tights, Joe “sherried the fix it/’ which 
means, in showmen’s slang, that he suddenly 
terminated his engagement. 

In Joe’s separation from the company, as 
given in the newspapers, the narrative stated 
that, “the injured man, when brought to the 
hospital, was suffering from concussion of the 
brain, due to a contusion evidently made by a 
blunt instrument.” But Joe, much disgusted 


8 


JOE SAXTON 


with this description, said, “that is about as 
straight as the newspapers generally get things. 
In fact it is an out-and-out lie. I only knocked 
him down with a stool/’ 

As one result of Joe’s quick temper he was 
obliged to change his name ; and he next en- 
gaged with a stone-cutter, to learn the trade, 
secretly believing that he could “chisel out” 
broken-legged sheep lying down under trees, 
and girls with wings, as well as the fellows he 
saw doing that sort of thing in the “works.” 

In this, however, he was disappointed ; first, 
because that was not the kind of work he was 
given to do, and squaring huge blocks of granite 
and sawing out slabs of marble, was in fact, as 
he said, “too much like getting out timber and 
splitting rails.” 

He tried several other occupations with no 
better success. At last, walking along the 
street one day, he passed a building in front of 
which was displayed a flag, while standing in 
the door was a neatly dressed soldier. Turning 
back at the next crossing, and retracing his 
steps, Joe inquired; 

“ Is this the place where men join the army ? ” 

“Yes,” replied the soldier. “Do you want 
to enlist ? ” 

“Well; I was thinking about it,” said Joe. 


IN JAPAN. 


9 


‘‘Come in, and I will tell you anything you 
want to know,” said the sergeant. 

Passing along a hallway and up-stairs, they 
entered a room, where several soldiers were 
seated around a table, playing cards. Now if 
there was any one thing Joe did like in the way 
of amusement, it was a little game of “draw”; 
and he was strongly tempted to take a hand at 
once. He soon saw, however, that it was noth- 
ing but “seven-up,” and that “for fun”; so he 
turned to read the poster on the wall, to which 
the sergeant called his attention, saying : 

“This will tell you all about the pay, and 
other conditions. The officer will be in before 
long, and you can talk to him about enlisting, 
if you want to.” 

While Joe was still engaged in reading the 
poster and looking at the pictures of what 
seemed to be all generals, a young man, dressed 
in civilian’s clothes, came into the room, smok- 
ing a cigar. 

The sergeant gave some sort of a command, 
it seemed, by way of greeting, and all the other 
men stood up around the table. This was 
answered by the young man making a motion 
with his hand, and at the same time taking the 
cigar out of his mouth, as he passed through 
into another room. 


IO 


JOE SAXTON 


“That’s him,” said the sergeant; “wait here 
till I come out;” and he followed the officer. 

He soon came out, and holding the door open, 
motioned Joe to enter. Joe did so, and found 
the officer seated behind a table opening letters 
with a paper-knife. 

“Well, my man, the sergeant tells me you 
want to enlist.” 

“ Yes,” said Joe, I had some notion of it.” 

Then followed a long list of questions as to 
his name, age, occupation, parentage and refer- 
ences as to character. In answer Joe did some 
very plausible lying. As to references, Joe was 
obliged to admit that he had none. 

“But,” said the officer, “can’t you refer to 
your last employer?” 

“Yes,” said Joe, “but I don’t know what he 
might say. I haven’t asked him.” 

“Well, nevermind about that; give me his 
name and address, and we will see about it. In 
the mean time, you can stop here and get your 
meals with our party.” 

Joe arose to go, and at the same time the 
officer got up, and coming around the table 
confronted him, saying : 

“My man, I like your looks; I wish you 
would tell me frankly what your idea is in 


IN JAPAN. 


II 


enlisting in the army. Are you broke ? are you 
out of a job ? can’t you get work ? ” 

Joe felt that he was in the presence of a gen- 
tleman, and replied : 

“Captain, I am not “broke.” I never was 
out of a job in my life ; but as for work, that is 
just the trouble. I cclji get too much of it.” 

The officer drew himself up to his full height 
— he was not even then quite as tall as Joe, who 
stood in front of him, his head slightly bent for- 
ward, holding his hat in front of his breast — and 
frowning, said : 

. “I hope, young man, you don’t think the 
United States Army an organized band of 
loafers.” 

“No!” said Joe, “I know better than that. 
I was brought up in the West. Still I thought 
perhaps a fellow might shirk a little once in a 
while without having his pay docked.” 

The officer unbent at once, and laughing, 
resumed his seat, saying : 

“Perhaps so. I hope so.” Then calling out, 
“Sergeant,” the door opened instantly, and the 
soldier was there saluting. 

“ Have the papers made out in this case, and 
take him to the doctor,” said the officer. “I 
hope he will pass,” he added to himself, and 
then went on soliloquizing: “There is a boy 


12 


JOE SAXTON 


with the courage of his convictions. I wonder 
how long he will keep it in the service.” As 
for himself, he could but reflect that his own 
experience had been one long struggle to keep 
his own. 

Joe soon found himself serving in a troop of 
cavalry on the frontier, having admitted that he 
perhaps knew something about horses, and 
been assigned to that branch of the service. 


III. 



S a matter of fact, when Joe enlisted he 
was barely nineteen years old, though 
he had declared to the recruiting 
officer that he was of age, and was his own 
master. 

He was large for his age, an athlete in build, 
and handy at almost everything. His qualifica- 
tions were soon recognized, and he was detailed 
to drive a team in the baggage train. 

Here Joe was perfectly at home. 

Having been “born in a manger,” as he used 
to say, he “ never could understand why every- 
body could not handle animals.” “All you 
have got to do is to talk to them,” he would say. 



IN JAPAN. 


13 


And Joe’s talk to his team of six mules, in a 
tight place, sometimes, not to mention a peculiar 
cry he could give when he wanted them to do 
their best and pull together, was something 
fearful for one brought up in the Christian faith 
to hear. This was, doubtless, due to his early 
training with the show; and his vocabulary 
might be considered a model for either the 
army or the navy. 

Big as he was, Joe had a tenor voice of a 
peculiarly penetrating quality, which in ordinary 
conversation could be heard all over camp, 
from the cook-fire at one end of the company 
street to the officers’ tents across the line at 
the other. And it was seldom silent. Even 
after taps Joe would talk as long as there re- 
mained any one awake enough within hearing to 
occasionally give a grunt of acknowledgment. 

Joe could not sing a bar correctly, but he 
liked music; and let anybody start up a song, 
no matter what, Joe developed into one of the 
best of listeners. 

It did not take his comrades long to find this 
out; so the troop to which Joe belonged came 
to be known as “the singers,” and one of the 
happiest, most cheerful and efficient organiza- 
tions in the whole army. 


JOE SAXTON 


I 4 


Now Joe had his weakness. Among soldiers 
drinking, swearing and similar habits, though 
against law, are oftener regarded as evidences 
of strength of character than otherwise. But let 
a man fall in love, and get found out, the affair 
becomes “nuts” for the fellows. And should 
the victim have any sense of the ridiculous he 
is apt to wind up by wishing there never was a 
woman in the world. 

This was hardly thought to be Joe's case, 
however; for nobody ever saw him write or 
receive letters. Still, with all his frankness, Joe 
evidently had something to conceal. Several 
times he had been caught reading a book. 
Usually it was while he was lying flat on his 
face under his wagon, with his mules around 
munching their hay and forming with their 
heels a line of defence against all comers, mak- 
ing it extremely dangerous for anybody to 
approach near enough to see what the book 
might be. 

One suggested the Bible ; but this brought a 
laugh at Joe’s expense. Another thought he 
was poring over an account he probably kept 
of “the game,” in which he put down his win- 
nings and losses, and such sums as the fellows 
owed him. 


IN JAPAN. 


15 


Another, a young recruit from somewhere in 
Indiana, was sure it was the “Boy’s Own Book.” 
Else, how could he know so much about mak- 
ing all sorts of traps and other such things. 
One said he had seen the inside of the book, 
though not very close to it, he admitted. 

This last speaker became an object of interest 
at once; and being questioned, he said : “No, it 
did not look like a novel, nor was it verses; 
just plain printing down the middle of the page.” 
Then all concluded it must be a list of horse- 
medicines, accounting for Joe’s extraordinary 
skill in treating the animals. 

There was nothing Joe hated to see more 
than a lame horse or mule ; or one with a sore 
back or shoulders. And nothing was too un- 
kind for him to say of the rider or driver, who 
might be even indirectly responsible for such a 
condition. Innumerable were the devices he 
invented for curing or relieving animals. One 
sovereign remedy, however, was tobacco-juice, 
of which he always had a plentiful supply 
ready for use. 

When asked by the medical officer for his 
theory as to its curative qualities, Joe replied, 

“Well, you see doctor; it kills the mully- 
grubs or micrubs, or whatever it is you call 


i6 


JOE SAXTON 


He could even start a balky horse with the 
juice. In a bad case, he would take the animal 
by the head, breathe into its nostrils a moment 
(some thought he whispered to it), spit into both 
eyes; pry open its mouth and land the whole 
quid with a mouthful of juice well inside ; then 
while the poor beast coughed, snorted and 
blinked, in utter misery, forgetting for the time 
all his other troubles, Joe would step aside, 
and, as the driver gathered his reins, give one 
of his peculiar “get ups,” accompanied by a 
cut with a “black-snake ” whip around the fore- 
legs; and if that horse didn’t go, it was because 
the “gear held,” or the load couldn’t come. 

Several times Joe’s “kit” and clothing had 
been searched by friends for the mysterious 
book — the pretense being that of “looking for 
a chew of tobacco,” “matches,” or something 
of that kind. The searchers were without suc- 
cess, until unluckily or luckily, one day one of 
the teamsters had occasion to go to the tool-box 
at the front of Joe’s wagon, for something he 
needed ; and there, in a sort of a pocket, made 
by tacking a piece of gunny sack against the 
side of the box, among sundry pieces of string, 
scraps of leather, buckles, etc., the precious vol- 
ume was found. 


IN JAPAN. 


17 


It was only part of a book after all. It had 
no back, or front either, for that matter ; and 
some of the leaves were gone ; while every 
page was soiled by harness-black or bacon 
grease. But at the top of every left-hand 
page were the words, ‘‘Lady of,” and on the 
right-hand page, “The Lake.” Joe’s weakness 
was revealed. It was poetry. 

That this was fun for the fellows need hardly 
be said. Several who had long suffered from 
Joe’s wit and sarcasm, now found their oppor- 
tunity to “get even.” Whenever he got into 
one of his tirades of exaggeration all that was 
necessary to silence him was to say, “ O ! come 
off, and tell us about that buck you fellows 
jumped, in the mountains of the old country ; 
that stopped first to shake himself, and then 
“lit out” all over the wide prarie. That time 
you got lost, and first met that girl of yours.” 
Or, another would say, “Tell us all about that 
sweetheart of yours who wouldn’t have the 
King, even though he was in disguise, because 
she loved another fellow.” 

In vain did Joe explain that the book they 
found, he had only picked up where some tour- 
ists had been camping, and that he had put it 
in the tool-box to use for old paper ; but, 
generally, about that time, something over near 


i8 


JOE SAXTON 


the wagons would need immediate attention. 
Or, if sitting around a fire, Joe would discover 
that it needed fuel ; and would go for an arm- 
ful of wood. 


IV. 

OE had wonderful tact in managing a 
train, as well as skill in packing the 
animals. 

It was interesting to notice how every mule 
in the outfit seemed to know him ; and there 
were a few that would stand for nobody else to 
pack. One of these was a black jade by the 
name of “Nancy Jane,” that would kick the 
blinds off of her face if anybody else than Joe 
tried to saddle her. Even he “ had a time ” 
with her once in a while. 

One evening after a hard day’s journey, Joe, 
while taking off her pack, was asked : 

“ What was it you were saying to Nance this 
morning while you loaded her up ? I heard you 
talking to her.” 

Joe at the time was untying a hard knot with 
the assistance of his teeth, his face close to the 
pack, and as he did not answer at once, the 
questioner added, “Was it poetry? ” 



IN JAPAN. 


*9 


Joe blushed to the roots of his blonde hair, 
and his teeth slipping off the knot, came to- 
gether with a “snap” like the spring of a 
beaver trap. Turning with a cold gray look 
in his usually bright blue eyes, Joe said : 

“ Poetry is pizen.” 

Joe got an Indian name of “ One Strike,” 
while out amongst the Bannocks, from a bar- 
room encounter. 

The witnesses in the case were two bar- 
tenders and several Indians who were loafing 
about the saloon at the time of the fracas. The 
finding of Joe’s cap, after he had returned to the 
post bare-headed, and his consequent admission 
that he “must have been there,” served to es- 
tablish the main facts beyond reasonable doubt. 

The truth was that one night Joe had been 
wandering about, unarmed, away from the post, 
alone, as was his wont, and feeling a little dry, 
went into a saloon. Seated around the place 
were three “hard cases,” with pistols strapped 
around their waists, evidently waiting for an in- 
vitation to drink. 

Now it is a custom, in fact an unwritten law 
in some parts of the West, that when a 
“stranger” enters a saloon, he should invite all 
present to “step up and liquor.” 


20 


JOE SAXTON 


Recognizing the fellows as “ beats, ” Joe neg- 
lected this little formality as he stepped up to 
the counter and asked for a “mix.” At this 
the loafers lined themselves up along the bar, 
two on one side and one on the other, without 
at first saying anything, unmistakably waiting 
to be invited “ to join.” Still Joe said nothing. 

Feeling a little uneasy, however, while wait- 
ing for his drink, Joe quietly shifted his posi- 
tion, so that he now stood on the right of the 
line, and, as he afterward said, “ could see them 
all at once.” The loafers becoming convinced 
that Joe had no intention of ‘‘doing the right 
thing,” from their standpoint, began to make 
remarks anything but complimentary about sol- 
diers in general. 

Joe paid no attention at first, doubtless think- 
ing they might prove too many for him under 
the circumstances, and was only anxious to get 
his drink and go. At last one of the loafers, 
speaking to another, “wondered how this brass- 
mounted monkey got out anyway.” At about 
the same time the bartender, not noticing that 
Joe had changed his position in the line, placed 
his drink in front of the man on his left. Joe 
reached for it, but before he could get hold of it 
the loafer had seized the glass and raised it in 
front of his face, and leering at Joe, said, 


IN JAPAN. 


21 


“You won’t treat, eh?” 

This was a little too much; and, for the in- 
stant, oblivious of the danger, Joe hauled off 
with his right, and throwing the whole weight 
of his massive shoulder with the blow, landed 
him one on the ear, with a grunt, and, “Yes I 
will.” 

The force of the blow was such that in fall- 
ing the recipient was knocked against the fellow 
on his left, and, he in turn against the one on the 
end of the line ; so that they all went down in a 
heap at the opposite end of the counter, like 
a row of bricks. The last man, striking his 
head against the wall, was stunned and ren- 
dered helpless. 

It is related that by the time the least injured 
of the three had got on his feet and pulled his 
“gun,” Joe was a block away, making tracks 
for the post. 

When asked, afterwards, why he ran away 
when he had already done so well, Joe replied, 

“Little as a man may have to live for in the 
army, I thought I would rather be a live soldier 
than a dead fool.” 


22 


JOE SAXTON 


V. 

would seem that, though a “general 
favorite,” Joe had enemies in the troop 
to which he belonged. One of these 
was O’Leary, an old Sergeant, an “excellent 
soldier,” as more than one of his discharges from 
previous service stated under the heading of 
“ character.” 

He was a man who seemed to be absolutely 
without the “sense of the ridiculous.” He 
never could see anything “funny” in any re- 
mark that could be possibly construed as bor- 
dering on familiarity, or “freshness,” as he 
called it ; and any recruit who showed the least 
sign of it, in speaking to or of his superiors, 
was a subject for “straightening out.” 

As might be expected, Joe gave early offense 
in this respect; and fell under grave disfavor 
with the sergeant. 

O’Leary was a big man, with red hair, a 
quick temper, a hard hitter ; and he had a way 
of talking- through his teeth which was any- 
thing but reassuring. The men called him 
“Red Leary,” or “Reddy” for short. 

Now Joe, doubtless, had the usual respect for 
the sterling qualities of the sergeant, especially 
for his tight grip and his big fist. But he also 



IN JAPAN. 


23 


had an ill -concealed contempt for his ignorance 
of animals. As Joe said, he didn’t know the 
“near” from the “off” side of a “bull,” as an 
ox is usually called on the plains. 

At this time there was in Joe’s team a certain 
bay mule, rather light in color, which, by a little 
stretch of the imagination, might be called red; 
so Joe named him “ Reddy.” Joe’s reflections 
on Reddy’s ancestry were misleading as well as 
decidedly disrespectful, and his epithets were 
always accompanied by a sharp cut or snap of 
the whip. 

Being reproved for this on one occasion, 
and asked why he abused that animal so much, 
Joe replied, 

“O, there is nothing the matter with the 
mule, “ Reddy,” except perhaps his color; I 
don’t hurt him very much.” 

Of course things could not go on very long 
this way without making trouble. 

One morning Joe was packing the hospital 
traps on a nervous mare mule, and, being a 
little behind time for the start, had called sev- 
eral times for assistance. O’Leary came along 
and told him among other things, that he had 
“better hurry up.” Joe replied that he was 
doing the best he could, and would like to have 


24 


JOE SAXTON 


some assistance ; “anyhow, somebody to hold 
the animal, if he couldn’t throw a hitch.” 

The sergeant taking this to mean himself, 
stepped to the opposite side of the mule, and 
taking hold of one of the fastenings, told Joe 
he had “better tighten that up before he pulled 
out,” and went on finding other fault with his 
method of packing. 

Now there is a rope about three-fourths of 
an inch in diameter, with an iron toggle and 
several links of a chain at one end, called a 
lariat, used ordinarily for picketing out animals 
to graze, and which is often used to secure 
a pack. An iron pin, about the same diameter 
as the rope, and eighteen inches long, sharp at 
one end, with a head on the other, with a figure 
eight ring, was lying on the ground near by. 
Joe was putting on the rope, a part being al- 
ready over the pack. A loop was lying across 
his arm, and the free end, with the toggle, was 
in his right hand. This he let slip out a little 
further, and, extending his arm, gave it a swing 
over the pack, at the same time saying, 

“Take this.” 

Witnesses swore to the foregoing at the trial ; 
and that they heard “a whack,” and saw the 
sergeant drop down under the mule, which at 
the same time, sprang into the air like a cat 


IN JAPAN. 


25 


from a puddle of water, and came down buck- 
ing and kicking. They also swore that Private 
Saxton seized it by the head and began cuffing 
and jerking it about ; that it swung round and 
round over the sergeant, packages flying in all 
directions ; that one, a medicine-case, rather 
heavy, dropped off on to the sergeant’s back. 

At the trial, the first witness for the prose- 
cution was, of course, Sergeant O’Leary. His 
testimony was straightforward and to the point. 
He swore that being in the discharge of his 
duty, he had occasion to “check” Private 
Saxton for being slow about his work, and 
undertook to assist him. That Private Saxton 
made some slurring remark, to which he re- 
plied that if he knew his business he would not 
need the whole command to help him. He tes- 
tified further, that when he was not looking, 
Saxton struck him over the head with a “picket 
pin;” and then, while he was senseless on the 
ground, jumped on him and kicked him several 
times. 

In answer to the questions by the judge ad- 
vocate, he further testified, that the mule was a 
gentle one, and that he knew she had nothing 
to do with injuring him. 

Then followed testimony by the medical officer 
and hospital steward, as to the character and 


2 6 


JOE SAXTON 


extent of the injuries to the sergeant. The 
former testified that when the case was first 
brought to his notice the patient was suffering 
from a laceration on the back of the cranium, 
low down. That above this, extending along 
the median line across the top, diminishing in 
size to the front, were three contusions, which 
he was of the opinion might possibly have been 
made by the links of a chain. That there were 
other bruises on the body, all at the back, ex- 
cept one on the biceps of the right arm. There 
was also one in the posterior region, which was 
very much swollen at the time he saw it, and 
which he was unable to give any opinion about, 
unless, indeed, the man had been kicked or 
trampled upon while in a prone position. 
Whether or not these injuries had been inflicted 
by blows or kicks of a man or a beast, he was 
unable to say positively. 

The steward on being called, testified sub- 
stantially to the same conditions, going, how- 
ever, a little more into particulars in regard to 
the injury last mentioned by the doctor ; saying, 
in answer to a direct question, that it was un- 
doubtedly made by the foot of a mule. 

Being further questioned as to how it was he 
knew so much better than the doctor how the 
injury was inflicted, he replied in substance, that 


IN JAPAN. 


27 


it was perhaps because he had seen the bruise a 
good many more times ; and he rather thought 
he knew the track of a mule from that of any 
other animal.- He had seen a great many. 

Being further questioned, he described how, 
after the swelling went down somewhat, the re- 
gion gradually changed color from a dull black 
to blue ; then through all the shades of green, 
yellow and brown, until there remained only 
the impression of the curve and peculiar elon- 
gated side of a mule’s shoe in light red, the im- 
print of the toe and calks being the last to dis- 
appear. 

On cross examination he was asked if he had 
ever called the attention of the injured man to 
this mark. To which he replied that he had not. 
On being further questioned as to why he had 
not done so, he replied that the sergeant could 
not have seen it if he had mentioned it, “at 
least without a looking glass, and I didn’t think 
of that.” 

The medical officer was then recalled, and 
having heard the testimony of the steward read 
over, was asked to give an expert opinion as 
to whether or not the injuries of the sergeant 
referred to were made by the mule, or other- 
wise ; to which he replied : 

“ It might be so.” 


28 


JOE SAXTON 




VI. 


HE prosecution being closed, witnesses 
for the defense were called. 

It should be mentioned that Lieu- 
tenant Wilson had been detailed to defend the 
accused, at his request, at the trial. This officer 
had seen service on the plains, and was pretty 
well known to most of the members of the 
court. 

Some of the testimony for the defense, as 
well as the prosecution, is referred to in the 
previous chapter, describing Joe’s actions, as 
well as that of the mule, when the sergeant 
dropped under her. 

One of the witnesses was asked by the judge 
advocate if he knew anything about the dispo- 
sition of the animal in question. His answer 
was that he did not know much about that par- 
ticular mule, “Maud,” but he would not trust 
any mare mule at some seasons of the year. 

On being asked if it was not a fact that he 
was afraid of all mules, the witness promptly 
replied, 

“ No Sir. There is old gray Tom, for in- 
stance. I have slept in the stall with him many 
a night.” 



IN JAPAN. 


2 9 


Another witness called for the defense was 
being questioned in pretty much the same strain 
when the judge advocate objected. On being 
asked by the president of the court to state the 
grounds of his objection, he said : 

“ In the first place, as I understand it, the 
mule is not on trial before this court ; and, con- 
sequently, I do not feel called upon to either 
prosecute or defend her.” 

Wilson replied, 

“ Mr. President, we claim that the mare mule, 
Maud, is on trial before this court. She has 
been brought into the case and made “ particeps 
crimmisP by the learned judge advocate him- 
self. And more. He has brought up the ques- 
tion of “character”; and we claim the right to 
prove that it is not only bad, but that she 
comes of a very doubtful family, to say the 
least.” 

By this time several members of the court 
had picked up newspapers to hide their faces, 
and others were bending low over the table, ap- 
parently “ taking notes.” The face of the 
president, as well as his bare scalp, were rapidly 
taking on the color of his artillery shoulder- 
straps. 

One member of the court had said almost 
nothing in the trial, and took but little part in 


30 


JOE SAXTON 


the numerous discussions when the court was 
closed. As this was somewhat unusual for him, 
those who knew him best, came to feel, after 
a while, that he had something on his mind. 
At last he spoke. 

“ During this trial,” said he, “frequent refer- 
ence has been made to “throwing the diamond 
hitch.” Whether or not that refers to throw- 
ing a rope with a chain at the end of it over 
the cargo on a mule, or to some kind of a knot 
or fastening, I have so far been unable to make 
out, and would like to be informed.” 

At once a young officer of cavalry kindly 
volunteered to explain all about it. The presi- 
dent of the court, however, suggested that the 
prisoner himself would be the best one to do 
that, as he undoubtedly was an expert in such 
matters. 

Saxton got up from the straight-backed 
kitchen-chair — which had been assigned to the 
accused as “the dock,” and the seat of which he 
had pretty thoroughly polished by squirming — 
and showed a readiness to comply. But Wilson 
arose at the same time, and motioning to Joe to 
be seated, said something to him in an under- 
tone, the last two words of which, being the only 
ones heard, were “mouth shut.” 


IN JAPAN. 


31 


He then went on to say, addressing the 
court, that if given a little time — until the next 
morning — he would undertake to produce an 
expert, whose work would be proof of his 
qualifications to any fair minded man. 

This led to a discussion as to the expense in- 
volved in employing an expert, and the neces- 
sity of special authority for the same, which was 
finally settled by the member, on whose behalf 
the testimony was chiefly required, stating, that 
should the expenditure not be approved, he 
would undertake to see that the man employed 
did not suffer ; and the court adjourned for the 
day, to enable the attorney for. the defense to 
find his man. 


VII. 


OW there was an employe in the quar- 
termaster’s department at the post 
where the trial took place, a certain 
“packer” named Migule, who, it was said, 
could “rope” a rattle-snake forty feet away, 
and snap its head off, with a lariat. He could, 
with a single line, pack a load of twelve-pounder 
round shot on a “burro,” and not lose one in a 
day’s march over the roughest mountain trail. 



3 2 


JOE SAXTON 


When the court met the next morning the 
members dropped into the library by ones and 
twos, smoking their after-breakfast pipes or 
cigars, intent on getting the most out of them 
before coming to order. Saxton and the 
packer were on the sidewalk in front of the 
building. 

The former was under guard. The sentinel, 
as well as the orderly for the court, saluted one 
officer after another as they passed in. Joe 
had not that privilege, being a prisoner. Mi- 
gule, however, bowed and touched his hat to 
such of them as he happened to know. 

As one young cavalryman came in, he said to 
Wilson, who was already there, 

“ So you have got that cut-throat Migule, for 
a witness, have you? I wouldn’t believe him 
under ” — oath, he was evidently about to say, but 
remembering the impropriety of such a remark 
under the circumstances, checked himself. 

“We don’t want you to,” was Wilson’s re- 
ply. “ All we ask is that you believe your own 
senses.” 

A table had been brought in, smaller than 
that around which the members sat in session, 
and coal-oil boxes had been placed under its 
legs, raising it to about the height of an ordi- 
nary pack-mule. Other boxes and bundles were 


IN JAPAN. 


33 


lying about the room. The bedding of the 
“librarian,” who slept in a room adjoining, had 
evidently been drawn upon, also, to furnish 
some of the paraphernalia of the prospective 
“pack,” or cargo, of the mule. 

The hour having arrived, the court came to 
order. The roll was called, and the proceed- 
ings of the previous day were read over and 
approved. All was now ready for the explana- 
tion of the much discussed “diamond hitch.” 

On an intimation from the president, Wilson 
got up and called in Migule. As he entered he 
took off his hat, passed his hand over his head 
and down backwards, as if to straighten out 
his hair, and stood looking at the table, but 
glancing around the room, evidently taking in 
everything. 

“Drive on,” said Wilson. 

Migule had certainly learned his lesson well. 
Without further words from anybody, he walked 
around the table, picked up a couple of boxes, 
one in each hand, and placed them on the table, 
their edges extending over the top on each 
side, to represent by their corners those of the 
“ araparajo,” which a certain kind of pack-pad, or 
saddle, is called. Then taking a mattress, he 
stuffed it between the boxes for the mule’s back. 
He then piled up other boxes and bundles until 


34 


JOE SAXTON 


the whole was somewhat higher than his head. 
Next he bound all these together, somehow, 
with a rope. Then going to the corner of the 
room he picked up a lariat, passed some of it 
through his hands as it uncoiled from the floor, 
and walked back to the table. When satisfied 
that the length of the “bite” was correct, he 
passed it over the pack and placed one part on 
what was supposed to represent the withers of 
the animal. Passing around the other end of 
the table, close up, at the same time placing his 
left hand on what was supposed to be the croop 
of the mule, he did something, and then re- 
turned to the “near side.” 

He next picked up the remainder of the rope 
lying partly on the floor, and throwing a bite 
over his left arm, measured off, with his eye, a 
certain length beyond his hand, and glancing at 
the ceiling, which was perhaps hardly high 
enough for his purpose, he shortened up a little* 
and raising his arm, swung the rope over the 
pack, about the middle. Around went the toggle 
and links on the end, coming up under the 
table with a “whack,” doubtless leaving marks 
which might serve to identify the table as quar- 
termaster’s property for all time to come, equal 
to those usually found in that region burned in 
with a red-hot iron. 


IN JAPAN. 


35 


A few more turns and passes, connecting it 
with a “sinch,” or belly-band, which had been 
lying under the table; then placing his foot 
against the side and hauling on the rope, a little 
this way and that, a turn or two under some of 
the tight parts to fasten and dispose of what 
was to spare, and the thing was done. 

To make sure that all was right, Migule lifted 
up one side of the table and gave it a shake. 
The action was so much like that of an animal 
on being packed, that had the thing grunted or 
made some other sound, it is doubtful if any 
one present would have been much surprised. 

All eyes were now turned upon the officer 
who had asked that the expert be called in, 
while Migule stood quietly awaiting further 
orders. 

The officer’s countenance was a blank. But 
at last, feeling called upon to say or do some- 
thing, he got up and walked to the side of the 
pack, examined the fastenings on that side, and 
started to go around by the rear to the other 
side; but, changing his mind, he passed to the 
opposite side by the front. Here he finished 
his inspection and stood back, and addressing 
Migule, said, • 

“Well — I don’t see yet what is meant by the 
diamond hitch.” He knew all about the “Piper 


36 


JOE SAXTON 


gin,” the “Mills sling,” the “ McCarty hitch,” 
the “Saxton hitch,” and others used in heavy 
artillery manoeuvres. “Was Diamond the name 
of the man who invented that way of packing? ” 
Migule placed his hands on the top of the pack 
and indicated by their movements the shape of 
the mesh the rope had made at that point — a 
perfect lozenge or diamond. 

The officer resumed his seat, saying, “that 
was all he wanted to know.” 

One member remarked : 

“That was the best expert testimony I ever 
heard of.” 

“How so?” said another, “I didn’t hear very 
much.” 

“That is just it,” said the first speaker, “he 
never said a word.” 

There being no further testimony to offer, 
the court was cleared and closed, and proceeded 
to vote on the findings. The accused was 
acquitted, a majority having enough doubt as 
to whether the affair might not have been an 
accident, to vote “Not guilty.” 

The record of the case went back and forth 
between the court and the department head- 
quarters several times, for amendment, for 
revision, and for decisions on various points 


IN JAPAN. 


37 

involved, some of which were not less remark- 
able than the main features of the very curious 
case itself. 

Joe was soon discharged. 

While under charges, and awaiting final 
action of the proceedings, Joe was, of course, 
confined in the guard-house; thus suffering some 
punishment at least, for anything he might or 
might not have done wilfully; which was doubt- 
less a comfort to those who thought him guilty 
as charged. 

But while Joe was in limbo, there came to 
the post a substantial looking gentleman, who 
called upon the commanding officer at his office. 
Joe was sent for at once, and came under guard. 
He had a long interview with the visitor in the 
orderly’s room at headquarters. What it was 
about, Joe never told; but it had a marked 
effect upon him. 

Soon, however, it all came out. The pro- 
ceedings of the Court were published, and they 
were quickly followed by an order from the 
War Department, discharging Joe from the 
service, as having been enlisted when a minor : 
‘‘this soldier not being entitled to travel pay, 
etc.” as the order read. The gentleman turned 
out to be Joe’s father. 


3 § 


JOE SAXTON 


It was several years afterward that Joe was 
found hunting and fishing in the wilds of the 
State of Washington. 

There were four in the party. Two had a 
“ prospect, ” or mine, in that part of the coun- 
try, and had built a “ shack, 1 ” or cabin for a 
stopping place on Bear River, between the set- 
tlement and the mine, which was about a day's 
tramp further up into the mountains. They 
had reached the cabin one night, and one of 
the party being in a crippled condition, con- 
cluded to remain with Joe until the return of 
the others, who had occasion to visit their mine. 

Rain came on, and for three days they were 
confined to that “ shack.” Joe put in the time 
cutting firewood, fishing a little, cooking and 
talking a good deal, while both smoked and 
nursed the visitors injured knee. Joe had been 
telling about a little Spanish girl, a rope-walker 
and dancer, he had known when he was in the 
“ show business.” They had about exhausted 
their stories of hunting scrapes and the like, and 
grown a little confidential as they sat astride 
a bench about five feet long, facing each other, 
and eating supper. The bench also served 
for a table, the victuals, consisting of trout, fried 
bacon, hard bread and coffee, were on the bench 


IN JAPAN. 


39 


between them. There was no light in the cabin, 
except from the fire flickering in the corner. 

“Joe,” said the visitor, “would you mind tell- 
ing me the truth about that scrape with 
O’Leary ? ” 

“Why! what do you want to know?” was 
the answer. 

“ Of course you knocked him down by acci- 
dent with the lariat. That was proved clearly 
enough before the court. But did you really 
try to get the mule off of him when O’Leary 
was on the ground ? ” 

Joe’s mouth was full at the time, but as he 
finished chewing and swallowed, he held up the 
knife he had in his hand and said : 

“ Can a knife cut?” 

“Yes — certainly.” 

“ Can a dog bite? ” 

“ I suppose so. But what has that got to do 
with the case? ” 

“ And a cat can scratch. If you don’t believe 
it,” continued Joe, “just put a kitten on a girl’s 
shoulder and pull it away suddenly, and hear 
what she says. For shooting, a gun is the 
thing. And for kicking, give me a mule like 
Maud in the spring of the year.” 


4 o 


JOE SAXTON 


VIII. 


OE went home after his discharge from 
the army, and was sent off to school 
“to fit him for college and society,” 
as he afterwards said, the fact being that his 
family was a little bit ashamed of him. 

Now at the school with Joe, in the prepara- 
tory department, there happened to be three 
Japanese boys, sent from home to acquire the 
English language and a “western” education. 

They were a little younger than Joe and a 
good deal smaller in size. 

They interested Joe immensely. Their mod- 
est ways and unfailing politeness, were so dif- 
ferent from, the manners of most boys, that he 
took to them immediately. 

One reason for this might have been, that they 
knew too little of the language to notice his 
“crudities of speech;” or else they were too 
polite to repeat them in derision, which was more 
than could be said of some of the others. The 
little fellows seemed to be equally interested in 
the big specimen from the western world. One 
especially, Kosaku by name, was said to be a 
prince, or something of the kind, in his own 
country, as the boys had it. The fact was, 




IN JAPAN. 


4 1 


however, that he only belonged to an old Sa- 
murai family, whose rank had been abolished, 
under the new order of things, and his people 
reduced to agriculture, which is the next highest 
grade to the fighting literati, of which the 
nobility is composed. 

The companionship of these two soon be- 
came established ; and it was odd to see them 
going about together, reminding the boys of 
a big “St. Bernard” and a “black and tan.” 
So they nicknamed Joe, “The Saint,” and the 
Jap. “Tanny.” 

One day Joe and his little friend were poring 
over their lessons together, whenTanny said, 

“ I find not the word you say in the book; 
what does it signify ? ” 

“What book are you looking in? ” said Joe. 

“English Dictionary,” replied Tanny. 

“ O ! the devil,” said Joe, “ look in the United 
States Dictionary. I talk American, /do.” 

The boy looked puzzled, and Joe went on : 
“Look here, Tanny, I’ll give it to you straight. 
The quicker you and your people drop to it, 
that this country is not English, the sooner you 
will get there.” 

“ Hai !” said Tanny — an exclamation of polite- 
ness, which the Japanese use to indicate that 
they have heard and understood; a phrase 


4 2 


JOE SAXTON 


employed frequently when the listener is in- 
tently interested. 

“ Thought all spoke same,” said Tanny. 

“No they don’t, by a jug full,” said Joe. 
“Some of the fellows here try to talk English. 
It makes me sick, their “halfs” and “calfs” 
and “laughs.” I’d a durned sight rather hear 
Dutch or Dago and done with it.” 

“ Dago ? —where that they speak ? ” 

“O! that is ‘greaser;’ ‘savey?’” 

It need hardly be said that Joe was heartily 
hated by some of the pupils in the school. 

Joe did not finish his college course. He 
never seemed to take much pride in it himself, 
from which it is fair to infer that he did not stand 
very high in his studies. 

Nevertheless, Joe managed to pick up the 
rudiments of a pretty fair education, mainly, no 
doubt, through his efforts to help his little 
friends, who were engaged in a quadruple fight 
with occidental language, science, literature and 
religion. 

It is true he could not help his friends very 
much against any of these enemies, except, per- 
haps the first. Many were the linguistic tangles 
he straightened out in his way, however, and, 
virtue had its reward. In helping his friends it 
came about in the course of time, that he could, 


IN JAPAN. 


43 


in a crude sort of way, make himself under- 
stood by them, in their “kotoba,” or “ lingo, ” 
as Joe called it. 

One day a couple of the older boys came to 
him to invite him to join them in a little in- 
nocent “hazing” of some new comers. Joe 
listened to them attentively until they had fully 
explained what they proposed to do, and then 
asked, 

“ Why do you come to me about it? Why 
don’t you do it yourselves? There are enough 
of you who like that sort of thing, and, of 
course, to you who like it, it’s just what 
you like. 

“O!” said the speaker, with a patronizing air, 
“You have been here long enough, and we 
thought you would like to be asked to join us in 
the fun.” 

“No,” said Joe, “You are not giving it 
straight. The fact is you are afraid that gawk, 
from over in Canada, might prove too much for 
you.” 

The boys admitted pleasantly that there 
might be something in that. But insisted that 
the thing ought to be done, “to take the con- 
ceit out of them,” as they said. 

“Say, fellows,” said Joe, “why didn’t you 
haze me when I first came here ? ” 


44 


JOE SAXTON 


“ o ! ” said one, “you didn’t need it, you had 
been around some.” 

“No, that isn’t it,” said Joe, “for if ever a 
fellow did need hazing, it was me, and you knew 
it. Just leave those fellows alone for a while, 
and if they are not natural born fools, they will 
find out themselves that they don’t know it all, 
by a jug- full.” 

There was more to the discussion, and Joe 
came very near losing his temper ; but the “jig” 
did not come off ; and, somehow, the practice 
seemed to die out during the course of that 
year. 

It may be mentioned that some of these same 
boys, whom Joe had saved from humiliation on 
this occasion, were at that very time, making fun 
of him behind his back. Still, it is believed, 
that before the close of Joe’s second year in the 
school — such is the nature of the average boy 
— had there been occasion, Joe could have 
“mustered a gang,” from the classes above and 
below him, as well as from his own, which, 
though composed largely of the most timid 
boys in the school, could have “cleaned out” 
the larger “half” of the institution. Such was 
their loyalty and devotion to him as a leader. 

When it came to the vacation following Joe’s 
first year in school, to the surprise of his people, 


IN JAPAN. 


45 


Joe decided to remain and work, to “catch up” 
in some of his studies. This was extremely 
gratifying to his father, especially as he now 
began to have “ some hopes of him,” as he 
said. 

The explanation was not far to seek, how- 
ever. His Japanese friends were doing the 
same. 

Two of these boys were brothers, sons of 
a rich tea merchant, who was anxious they 
should have every advantage. One, the younger, 
though very bright, did not seem to possess a 
strong constitution; and in the second winter 
began to fail in health. With his brother he 
was called home to Japan, where, the following 
year, he died. 

It is related of this little fellow, that not long 
after Joe first came to the school, “ Tozo” was 
heard refer to one of the professors as a “cuss.” 
This came to the ears of the professor as a 
“good joke.” He, nevertheless, thought it his 
duty to say something to the boy, of whom he 
was very fond. 

So, one day calling the little fellow to his 
side, he told him he must not refer to other 
people as “cusses.” 

“Why?” asked the boy, in innocent sur- 
prise. 


4 6 


JOE SAXTON 


“Because it is not respectful, and is liable to 
misconstruction.” 

“The Saint called me “little cuss,” and he 
likes me, does he not ? ” 

“ Doubtless,” said the professor, “ but then 
you must not use the word again until you have 
become somewhat more familiar with the nature 
of the English language.” 

The boy went straight to Joe, and told him 
what the professor had said, and asked an ex- 
planation. 

“Why, the poor old cuss !” said Joe, “I guess 
he doesn’t know that word is American, and 
sometimes means — angel ! ” 


IX. 


after the brothers went home, 
Tanny was also sent for, the appro- 
priation in Japan for foreign educational 
purposes having been exhausted. 

It was bad enough for both Tanny and the 
Saint when the brothers left ; but when Tanny 
himself had to go, Joe was “all broke up,” and 
though he made a brave effort to go on with 
his studies as usual, he soon began to fall in class 
standing. To some of his other friends, and he 



IN JAPAN. 


47 


had plenty of them in the school, he admitted 
that he ‘‘did miss the little cusses.” He could 
not seem to understand why he could not “hold 
up,” as he called it. He studied as hard as 
ever. The fact was, having no one to help out, 
he spent less time over the hard knots than in 
undoing those that “ pulled easy,” and so he 
fell behind. 

As before said, though he had plenty of 
friends, there were none to take the place of 
his little absent companions ; and it was noticed 
by the faculty with some concern, that he was 
making acquaintances outside among the “town 
boys.” He had been seen riding in a buggy 
with a young livery-stable keeper, behind a 
pair of horses said to be “fast.” 

Several times Joe seemed to be “ailing; ” his 
eyes were bloodshot, and one forenoon he was 
actually caught nodding during recitation ; on 
which occasion one of his classmates said sig- 
nificantly to another, that he guessed “the Saint 
had been out last night.” Joe began to write 
to his father more frequently than had been his 
wont, for “a little more money.” “Only a few 
dollars,” he said, to enable him to “hold up his 
end,” etc. 

At the close of the session, as a result of the 
examinations, Joe dropped in standing, from 


4 8 


JOE SAXTON 


above the middle of his class, to very near the 
foot. 

In transmitting the yearly report of progress 
to Joe’s father, the faculty “regretted exceed- 
ingly that they had not been able to surround 
his son with those influences which it was their 
earnest desire, in all cases, to have resemble as 
nearly as possible those of a well ordered home. 
In fact, he had made certain social connections 
outside of the institution, of which they could 
not heartily approve, and which it might be as 
well to interrupt, at least for a time.” 

The meaning of all this was plain enough to 
Joe’s father, as it was intended to be, and Joe 
never returned to the school. 

On arriving at home, Joe expected “a time” 
with his father, and was not disappointed. 

In justice to Joe’s father, it must be said, 
however, that he urged him to “stay at home, 
behave himself, and help run the place for a 
while.” 

“No,” said Joe, “I am not going to disgrace 
the family that way, anyhow.” 

On being asked what he could do, or where 
he could go, he replied, 

“Never mind about that. If I have got to 
be ordered around all my life, I know a place 


IN JAPAN. 


49 


where some of the bosses at least, know their 
business. ” 

Now Joe’s immediate family, beside his 
father, consisted of two brothers, older than 
himself, and a sister, younger; his mother hav- 
ing died when he was a small boy. 

With his brothers he “ never could get 
along;” with his sister, however, the case was 
entirely different, and when it came to saying 
good bye to her, she asked, 

“O ! joe, where are you going? What will 
you do? What can you do? ” 

“ Never mind, Martha, there are some things 
that even / can do. And I know two places 
that almost any young fellow can get into with- 
out much trouble for a term, may be for life.” 

“What do you mean, Joe? ” 

“The penitentiary and the army.” 

“ O ! Joe ! ” and the girl burst into tears. 

“Don’t cry, sister, I will try the last first,” 
said Joe ; and, in a more cheerful tone, trying 
to comfort her, “who knows, may be I might 
win a commission. I have been to school some, 
you know.” 

“Could you, Joe? ” asked the girl. 

“ Lightning strikes in queer places sometimes; 
and the chances among places are about equal,” 
was the reply. 


50 


JOE SAXTON 


“Try and be good, won’t you, Joe? — for my 
sake.” 

“I don’t know about being good, Martha, 
but I will try,” said Joe, as he took her in his 
arms and kissed her many times. 

Joe said long afterwards, that but for that 
sister he believed he would have “ fetched up” 
in the other of the two situations more than 
once. 

When next heard of, Joe was serving with 
the cavalry, on guard in the Yellowstone Na- 
tional Park. 

Exciting as the service was at times, Joe 
tired of it, and wanted a change. So, when his 
enlistment was up, with a good discharge, he 
went to San Francisco and enlisted in the artil- 
lery, saying by way of explanation, that he sup- 
posed the “ U. S.” brand had been so burnt 
into him that he would never get it out, whether 
he ever got anything out of it, or not. 

Again he was out of luck. The battery to 
which he belonged, was ordered to Fort Canby, 
in the State of Washington, more “out of civil- 
ization,” as Joe said, than the Yellowstone 
Park. 

Here he put in a couple of years, and having 
“come into some money,” he took his discharge 
and went back to San Francisco. 


IN JAPAN. 


51 


One of Joe’s last acts in the “U. S.” service, 
was to volunteer as a substitute in a life-saving 
crew at Fort Canby, where he assisted not only 
in saving the lives of some of the others of the 
crew, who where “knocked out,” but in bringing 
to land seventeen people from the wrecked 
steamer, “ Point Loma,” which went to pieces on 
North Beach, Washington, February 28, 1896. 

Joe received his discharge, and read what 
had been put under the heading of “ Character,” 
and the usual certificate, that “ this soldier’s 
service has been faithful,” which the law re- 
quires in order that he may draw his final pay. 
To this last had been added one word, “gal- 
lantry,” doubtless having reference to his 
recent brave conduct. 

Saxton, having doffed his uniform, came up 
to the Captain, and stood with his hat in his 
hand in front of his breast, head bent slightly 
forward, as he stood before the recruiting 
officer when he first enlisted, his eyes a “liquid 
blue,” more like those of a gentle woman than 
of a strapping “six-footer.” 

“ I have come to say good bye, Captain. 
About that you put on my discharge, I haven’t 
got a word to say; talk is too cheap.” 

“Good bye,” said the Captain, putting out his 
hand for Joe’s; and repeating “goodbye” as 


52 


JOE SAXTON 


they clasped with one quick downward motion, 
characteristic of the American hand-shake, they 
parted; joe forgetting to say the final words, or 
to put on his hat until he had got some distance 
away. 


X. 


OE was next heard of on board of one 
of the steamers before mentioned, en 
route for Japan. He still thought of 
his little friends of nine years before. 

The elder of the brothers, having finished 
his education in Japan, was now a professor in 
one of the excellent institutions of learning in 
that country, and married. His wife, as pretty 
as the day he got her from her father, was even 
more bewitching in her young matronly ways, 
than the bashful child her husband negotiated 
for through friends, six years before. Still, 
deep down in her Japanese heart she had a 
small secret sorrow. 

Her husband, though he himself usually wore 
European dress, never encouraged her to 
adopt the fashion of her western sisters ; and 
he positively forbade her either to blacken her 



IN JAPAN. 


53 


teeth or shave her eye-brows, the sign that she 
was married, and done with the frivolities of life. 
He slyly intimated to her, that he had no fears 
of her falling in love with anybody else, as long 
as she had him ; and as for others falling in love 
with her, well, that was their lookout. 

She did, however, without opposition, change 
the style of “doing her hair,” from the two 
parts into which it is divided before marriage, 
to the single roll at the back indicating the 
matron. • 

One day she had her maid do it up some- 
what in European style, and twisted around on 
the back of her head. 

She expected her husband would say some- 
thing about it when he came home. But he did 
not. In fact he never seemed to notice the 
change. Instead, he talked all through the mid- 
day meal about the pretty girls he had seen in 
America. As she walked with him out to the 
veranda, through the sliding door, when he was 
returning to the college, he said, patting her on 
the cheek, 

“I have seen some pretty women in Japan, 
too, since I came back.” 

After that, she always wore her hair that way ; 
at least, until she saw two European ladies fol- 
lowing a different style. 


54 


JOE SAXTON 


The husband, even as a boy at school in 
America, had always been rather taciturn — 
lacking the sprightliness of his younger brother, 
or the roguish enterprise of “Tanny.” 

Studious industry and a conscientious thor- 
oughness in everything he undertook, were 
characteristic of him; and he was often left 
out of the fun the other boys engaged in. 

He had no nick-name, as his smaller brother 
had, but as he was the largest of the three, 
the brothers were sometimes spoken of as the 
“big” and “little” “Japs,” by the other boys. 

Professor Okii welcomed Joe warmly when 
they met in Tokyo. Joe, however, did most of 
the talking, until a door opened and a woman 
stood in the entrance, making a low bow to 
the host. All arose from their chairs, and as 
she came inside the host uttered the simple 
words, “my wife.” Instead of bowing to the com- 
pany, as she had done before to her husband, the 
Professor’s wife walked straight up to Joe, and 
putting out her pretty little hand, said in Japan- 
ese, “This is Mr. Saxton, I know;” then turn- 
ing and bowing, she added, “Glad to see the 
Doctor, too. When did you come up from 
Yokohama? ” 

“To-day,” was the reply. 


IN JAPAN. 


55 


‘‘But why did you not bring him before ? The 
steamer has been in a week, has it not” 

“ The fact is that another of Mr. Saxton’s 
schoolmates got hold of him as soon as he 
landed; and, as he says, he has been showing 
him all the “good places” about the city. 

“ O ! you mean Mr. Kosaku ; I shall scold him 
with a stick when we see him again, shall we 
not?” glancing at her husband, who, smiling 
assent, seemed to be willing his wife should do 
all the talking, as well as the beating; then ad- 
dressing Joe direct, she asked, 

“Mr. Saxton — (Saxtonsan, she called him) — 
have you seen anything in Japan to admire? ” 
“Lots of things,” said Joe. 

“What most ? ” she again asked. 

“The women,” was the reply, as Joe stared 
down on the little lady, who stood quite near. 

“ My husband says all the American ladies 
are lovely; does he speak truth? ” 

“ I guess so,” said Joe, “our girls are queens.” 
“ But then you are not English — they have 
the Queen.” 

“We are about forty million times better off 
in that respect than they are,” said Joe. 

The professor laughed, and making a slight 
motion, his wife turned to a little table saying, 
“please be seated, gentlemen, and have a cup 


JOE SAXTON 


56 

of tea,” and as she handed Joe his cup in a little 
oval dish, she added with a sigh, 

“ I should like very much to visit America.” 

Joe took the cup, and raising it to his lips, from 
sheer force of habit, uttered the single word, 
“How” — which means, in American, everything 
polite — and after emptying it, replaced it on the 
table, saying, 

“ Come over with your husband ; we Ameri- 
cans will try to treat you right, and will do our 
best to make that “ riffraff,” lately from across 
the other big water, do so too, won’t we 
Doctor? ” 

It will be readily guessed that the professor 
had coached his charming little wife somewhat 
as to American manners and customs. 

He had even explained to her the difference 
between the American and the English manner 
of shaking hands, so that when she gave hers 
to Joe in greeting, it took the same direction in 
movement as did his ; and it never occurred to 
him that there was anything at all strange in a 
Japanese lady’s shaking hands with a friend, or 
with the friend of her husband. 

Joe’s comments after leaving the house — and 
a charming little bungalow it was, with its pretty 
miniature garden at the back —were character- 
istic. 


IN JAPAN. 


57 


“ Isn’t she pretty ? Why we see in all the 
pictures on fans and things, little slits for eyes, 
cut bias, and all that sort of thing. Did you 
notice that when she came in, her eyes were 
wide open and straight as anybody’s, making a 
fellow feel that he was well acquainted ! And 
her hand — well, it is no use to talk about that. 
It did seem a little queer for her to be in her 
stocking feet, especially with the . big toe off to 
one side by itself like a hand in a mitten. 

“And clothes — I wonder if they make them 
themselves? Not a color, outside, that I could 
see, except that bow, or something in her hair. 
All just “sky-blue-pinks” and “baby-blues;” 
and that outside wrap, a sort of “morning gray,” 
as they call it in “the Rockies” when it is going 
to be a fine day. No jewelry anywhere, except 
that ring on her finger ! But, O ! Lordy ! how 
bound, up about the legs ! How she handled 
herself so easily was a mystery. Why a 
horse hobbled like that would break his neck 
getting out of the stable. But she managed 
somehow! Maybe it was because there were 
no hooks and eyes, buttons, strings, pins or 
buckles, that I could see; only just that wide 
circingle all stuffed underneath with something, 
and done up at the back, that made her bigger 
around the barrel than anywhere else. Say, 


JOE SAXTON 


58 

Doctor, wouldn’t you like to see her bare foot ? 
I should.” 

“Pshaw, Joe,” replied his friend, “you can 
see plenty of that sort of thing around here.” 

“O, yes! But that is not what I mean. Just 
take either of her’s, and I’ll bet Trilby wouldn’t 
be in it.” 

“Joe, you talk as if you were in love with the 
professor’s wife.” 

‘ Of course I am ; how could anybody help 
it?” 

“But how about those others? The * Span- 
ish Beauty,’ for instance, that you used to know 
when you travelled with the ‘Great Combina- 
tion.’ Then that ‘ Native Daughter of the 
Golden West,’ from ‘ Eden Valley,’ the ‘Belle 
of the Bush,’ you called her, I think. 

“And since you came over here, there 
is ‘Machiko,’ ‘Chrysanthemum,’ ‘Ohana San/ 
and — ” 

“O! Doctor, come off,” cried Joe, “don’t 
throw up to a fellow all the times he may ever 
have been in love, just when he is trying his 
best to mend his ways.” 

“ I am afraid, Joe,” said his friend, “you will 
not find Japan the best place in the world for 
that” 


IN JAPAN. 


59 


XI. 


HEN Joe arrived in Japan, “Tanny” 
was promptly on hand to welcome 
him. 

Joe hardly recognized his little friend of years 
before. There was less change in Joe. As 
might have been expected, Tanny had finished 
his growth, as well as his education. The uni- 
form of a staff officer, together with a decided 
‘‘military bearing,” gave his appearance so 
much dignity, that Joe hardly knew how to greet 
him, and had it not been for a certain roguish 
expression in his eye, with perhaps a suspicion 
of a tear, as he came up to Joe holding out his 
open hand for a good old shake, perhaps Joe, 
as he took it with the grasp of a frontiersman, 
would not have found so much use for his other 
hand on the back of the officer’s uniform. At 
the same time Joe mixed up his English with 
certain Japanese expressions he had always 
been fond of using, in a way that astonished 
the by-standers. 

It was not until after dinner at the hotel, where 
all through the meal they sat almost silent, lis- 
tening to the music of the band of the U. S. 
man-of-war, “ Olympia,” which played on shore, 




6o 


JOE SAXTON 


and afterwards, as they strolled along the 
“ Bund” in the moonlight, that these two old 
chums really “got together again,” as Joe ex- 
pressed it. 

After that it need hardly be said they saw a 
good deal of each other in Japan ; in fact they 
lived together for a considerable time. 

Tanny, on his return from America, had been 
placed in the Military Academy at Tokyo, from 
which, in due time, he graduated with high 
honors, and was assigned to a department hav- 
ing to do with arsenals and gunnery. 

Before Joe arrived in Japan, Kosaku had 
seen considerable service, fighting all through 
the Chinese war, and coming out with a decora- 
tion of high order from the Emperor. 

Such decorations are given under monar- 
chies for “distinguished service,” and they carry 
pensions for life. In Japan all pensions and 
salaries are small, still the decoration added 
something to the pay of Kosaku’s grade, and he 
was very proud of it, although he said little 
about it. 

In the correspondence between Joe and his 
friend, Kosaku had frequently urged Joe to 
come over and visit him, promising to show him 
“all the good places in Japan,” and faithfully 


IN JAPAN. 


6 1 


indeed Kosaku made good his word when Joe 
came. 

In one part of the country which they visited 
together, very few ijinsan (foreigners), had 
ever been seen; and Joe’s European dress, as 
well as his size and “coloring,” attracted a 
great deal of attention. So they decided to 
don Japanese costume. 

Now this was all very well for Tanny, but 
Joe soon got enough of it. 

One evening as they were going out, Tanny 
came into Joe’s room all ready dressed, and 
looking at his watch, said, “it is time to start; 
get on your kimono and we will be off.” 

“No,” said Joe, “I am going just as I am. 
The fact is, Tanny, that racket don’t work.” 

“ Why, what is the matter? ” , 

O ! it is all right for you, and would be for 
me, if I could reduce my size, paint my eyes, 
and keep my mouth shut; but it’s no use. Be- 
sides, your people don’t seem to hate Ameri- 
cans anyhow, and nobody ever mistakes me 
twice for an Englishman ; and I would just as 
lief they knew what I am as not.” 

Now, it is believed that Joe was not entirely 
frank in this statement ; the fact being that he 
rather enjoyed the “racket,” as he called it, 
and didn’t mind attracting attention at all. Still, 


62 


JOE SAXTON 


one defect in Joe’s character was very marked. 
Though a merciless wag himself, he could not 
bear to be laughed at, especially by “the 
girls.” 


XII. 


T was a warm summer night in Japan. 
The festival of the Heavenly Lady 
was at its height ; and the streets 
of the Yoshiwara district of Tokyo were a 
blaze of light. 

The inhabitants of the district, not content 
with the gas and electric light of modern times, 
had hung the balconies and eaves of the build- 
ings on both ^ides of the street, with myriads 
of colored lanterns and transparencies ; while 
across, and up and down, long lines and fes- 
toons of the same gave to the scene a bril- 
liancy and variety in coloring which paled the 
full moon and bright blue of the Japanese sum- 
mer sky. The sound of the samisen, every- 
where mingled with that of the flute, harp, and 
drums of all sizes and tones, filled the air with 
the noise of merrymaking. 

V On the sides of the streets in front of certain 
buildings, temporary stages had been erected, 



IN JAPAN. 


63 


where ancient pantomimes and dances were 
being performed, while parties of fantastically 
dressed men passed up and down, bearing 
transparencies and banners decked with flowers. 

The sound of the wooden clogs, and the slip, 
slip, of the sandals on the feet of the people, 
as they walked slowly along, singing their pe- 
culiar songs, mingled with shouts in a strange 
language, made a scene of festivity difficult to 
describe. But there was another feature of this 
district, the like of which is to be encountered 
nowhere else in the world. The only thing 
bearing any resemblance to it is to be seen 
sometimes in Mohammedan countries, where 
women are concealed behind a lattice, or thin 
curtain, through which they see and hear, per- 
haps imperfectly, while they themselves are 
shielded from the public gaze. 

But this, like almost every other custom of 
other countries, is reversed in Japan. 

On the ground floors of the buildings, on both 
sides of the streets, are rooms richly decorated 
and brilliantly lighted, open to the street, ex- 
cept for a grating of iron bars, like the cages of 
animals and birds on exhibition in a menagerie. 
In these cages companies of girls, richly dressed 
in the most tasteful costumes, painted and pow- 
dered as for the stage, are on exhibition. 


6 4 


JOE SAXTON 


One of the party had witnessed many carni- 
vals in foreign lands, as well -as some not of' 
a merrymaking character in his own. He had 
seen acres of field and wooded country strewn 
with the dead and dying, in uniforms of blue 
and gray ; and had been present where, not 
dozens, or hundreds, but thousands of wounded 
had been gathered into hospitals ; and where, 
while being operated upon or treated, great 
numbers had died. Many a young life went out, 
while parents, brothers and sisters stood around 
the iron cot, hoping against hope, until the last 
breath was drawn. And yet, no gayer nor sad- 
ger sight did he ever see than when walking 
along the streets, or gazing through the bars of 
the cages of these birds of brilliant plumage, 
in the city of Tokyo. 

On the night referred to at the opening of 
this chapter, Carl Steinberg was passing along 
the street ; the throng in the middle of which, 
made it necessary, or easier for progress, to 
walk close to the buildings on one side. He 
passed by cage after cage, counting the occu- 
pants of each by a system of quick division into 
threes, following a habit, scarcely pausing in his 
walk, except occasionally to avoid a collision 
with others going in the opposite direction, or 
to pass around some one leaning on the guard 


IN JAPAN. 


65 


rail and gazing into a room. In this way he 
had nearly passed one of the exhibits, in which 
the girls sat around in a semi-circle, the ends of 
which were close to the bars in front. The 
throng in the street was so great that his left 
elbow was carried over the rail, to economize 
space in moving along. As he neared the end 
of the row, he heard the single word, “ijinsan,” 
(stranger,) spoken by a girl at the end of the 
line inside the room, and looking up, he met a 
gaze of recognition from a pair of dark eyes. 

It was, by no means an unusual thing for a 
passer-by to be recognized or spoken to, in an 
unobstrusive way, by those inside the cages; 
but something in that look impressed him as he 
passed along. Where had he seen that face 
before? He had never been inside of that 
house, and this was his first visit to that dis- 
trict at night. But the look haunted him, and 
pausing for a moment, to think, he turned and 
slowly walked back. As he approached from 
the opposite direction and came suddenly into 
view, he found himself again face to face with 
the girl, who had twisted around as she sat on 
her feet on a crimson cushion, and grasping the 
bars with both hands had placed her face close 
to them, where, with head turned, she had kept 
him in view as long as possible. In this position 


66 


JOE SAXTON 


he surprised her, their faces coming near 
together. The girl drew back, releasing one 
hand from the bar, and then the other, and 
straightening herself, as she sat back upon her 
feet, she still looked at him. 

Surely he had seen her face before. But, it 
could not matter much, and as he dropped his 
eyes and was turning to go she spoke again : 

“Ohairi, nasai,” (come, please.) 

Again he looked at her. There was no 
smile upon her face, and her eyes had that look 
of mingled hope and fear we sometimes see 
in the presence of dreaded loss. Carl now 
looked until the girl dropped her eyes ; then, 
determined to set all doubt at rest, he turned, 
saying in Japanese, “I will.” 

He went to the entrance, where the keeper 
and his assistants sat in a little pen behind a 
low railing, at the inside ; he explained what he 
wanted, while attendants took off his shoes, 
furnishing instead a pair of sandals ; after which 
he was conducted to a room on the floor above. 

This room was entirely bare of furniture, ex- 
cept a flower-pot before a kakemono at one 
side, and several square lanterns or lamps, in- 
closed in paper screens, and standing upon 
legs. The ceiling was low, and the frames of 
the sliding screen doors on three sides scarcely 


IN JAPAN. 


67 


high enough to admit one of his stature without 
stooping. The floor was covered with thick 
matting, which yielded to the pressure of the 
foot, while several square cushions were lying 
about, the whole flooded with a soft and pleas- 
ant light. 

By the time Carl had taken in these sur- 
roundings — and it required but a moment — a 
sliding door was moved back by a girl kneeling 
outside, and the young woman already men- 
tioned stood at the entrance, holding the laps 
of her kimono, slightly raised from the floor in 
front, and drawn tightly about her body. Her 
whole dress and toilet had that perfect harmony 
of coloring and drapery, to which description 
can hardly do justice. 

Her figure was slight, appearing still smaller 
on account of her Japanese costume ; and her 
every movement, when free, was characterized 
by modest gracefulness. 

Many Japanese women are fairer than some 
of their Caucasian sisters ; but this was not 
the case with this girl. She resembled the 
Spanish brunette, having also the large and 
prominent eyes of those famous beauties. The 
dress she wore was the same in style and colors 
as that of her companions ; in fact, it was the 
uniform of the establishment, a little variety in 


68 


JOE SAXTON 


the ornamentation of the hair being the only 
difference noticeable among the occupants. 

While Carl stood in the middle of the room 
and looked, the girl by two or three short, quick 
steps crossed the threshold, and dropping upon 
her knees, placed her hands upon the matting 
in front, and brought her forehead low enough 
to touch her hands. Raising her head with a 
glance upwards, in answer to Carl’s “ comban 
wa,” she again bowed her head as before and 
rose to a position of sitting on her feet. 

As Carl advanced she stood up. Again she 
looked him in the face with the same expres- 
sion which had so impressed him at first, but 
still she was silent. A strange meeting, one 
might think, and yet the Japanese custom. 

Carl scarcely knew what to say, forgetful for 
the moment of his object in having her called 
up. 

Recovering his memory, however, he asked, 
“Well, my girl, where have I seen you be- 
fore ? ” 

“At the end of the street. He does not re- 
member? ” 

“ No,” said Carl, “I do not remember. When 
was it ? ’ 

“When sick,” she answered. 


IN JAPAN. 69 

“O, you mean at the hospital at the end of 
the street, when you were sick.” 

“So desu,” was the answer, — the expression 
meaning “yes, if it pleases you.” 

“Yes, yes, now I remember,” said Carl. 

In one of his visits to the hospital of the 
Yoshiwara, “at the end of the street,” Carl had, 
at the request of the house surgeon, examined 
a number of patients and recommended certain 
treatment; one of these was this girl, who was 
then suffering from an attack of pneumonia, 
which had passed its second stage, with much 
prostration, the issue being extremely doubtful. 
In this case he had recommended some change 
in the medicine she was taking, with the admin- 
istration of certain stimulants, which was done, 
with rapid recovery as the result. 

The girl made no reply, and Carl continued : 
“ Why did you wish me to come in here? What 
can I do for you ?” 

There was that in his voice, perhaps, which 
for the first time engendered hope in the mind 
of this poor creature, and looking up into his 
face, she said: 

“Take me from this place.” 

This brought Carl to his senses. He took 
his hand from her shoulder, and drew back, 
looking at her. 


1 0 


JOE SAXTON 


XIII. 


OWN upon her knees the girl dropped, 
and bending forward, she placed her 
forehead on the backs of her hands, 
which were upon the floor, as if struck down 
by the look he gave her. In this position she 
remained like a helpless animal in expectation 
of a blow from an offended master, and the 
hand it loves. 

Carl stood over her, but looking down — 
presently his heart seemed to cease its beating, 
though his face flushed, and the tears started 
from his eyes. With a sudden impulse, and a 
determination to go to the bottom of this mat- 
ter, he sat down beside her on the floor. He 
touched her on the shoulder, indicating that he 
wished her to sit up, and with a kindly voice 
asked : 

“ How can I ? ” 

The girl sat back upon her feet, placed her 
hands upon her doubled knees, and looked him 
earnestly in the face. Her eyes were now red 
from weeping, and were still running over with 
tears, yet she made no sound. 

Presently, having framed other words, Carl 
asked : 




IN JAPAN. 


7 1 


“Why do you wish me to take you from 
here ? ” 

Slowly she answered, speaking every word 
distinctly, that he might be sure to understand: 

“If you do not take me away, he will come, 
and I must go to him. He knows that I am 
here ; and he told the tea-house people that he 
would come for me to-night.” 

“ But who is he? Who are you afraid of? ” 

“The sake merchant, of the Willow Bridge. 
He will come. He is not kind; but I did not 
much care for that, until now when I think only 
of the stranger who saved my life.” 

“But how was that? — I did nothing.” 

“O, yes! you did. They all said, but for you 
I should have died. You told them what to do. 
Now I am well again, but O! so unhappy!” 

Carl sprang to his feet and took a quick 
turn or two up and down the room — partly to 
hide his feelings — but mainly to gain time to 
think. 

His resolution was soon taken. He slid back 
an inner door, stepped out upon the narrow pas- 
sage surrounding the court, and clapped his 
hands. Almost instantly a servant appeared. 

“Tell the man below I want to see him,” 
said Carl. 

“Hai,” replied the girl, and hastened off. 


72 


JOE SAXTON 


Carl waited outside until the keeper came, 
by which time he had written something in a 
little blank book he took from his pocket, and 
tearing out the leaf, as the man approached, 
handed it to him. 

“Hai,” said the man, and stood waiting for 
something further. 

“Yes; and send us some supper,” added Carl 
taking out his purse and handing him some 
money. 

“The change will be here in a moment,” said 
the man as he turned away. 

“Never mind the change,” said Carl. 

The keeper came back all smiles. 

“ Will the gentleman have tea or sake with 
the supper? ” 

“Both,” said Carl with impressive bluntness. 

“How many geisha?” asked the keeper. 

“None,” said Carl. The man walked away, 
chuckling, “Ah! these festivals. They always 
bring good business.” 

Carl replaced his purse in his pocket, and re- 
turned to the room. 

The girl arose from the floor where she had 
remained while he was gone, and meeting him 
as he approached, placed both hands on his 
shoulders. Looking him in the face, her eyes 


IN JAPAN. 


73 


now aglow with pride and content, she said, as 
Carl looked down upon her: 

“Now let him come ; let him come. I do not 
care, I do not care.” 

The Japanese have a way of giving assent 
to a question, or agreeing to a proposition by 
repeating it after the inquirer. They also em- 
phasize a remark by repeating it, as above; 
although the emphasis is often given in the 
mildest of tones. 

Presently a door was moved back a few 
inches, and someone spoke through the open- 
ing. Carl did not catch the words, and so the 
girl took him by the hand, and led him out of 
the room. They passed along the inner balcony 
around the court for some distance, and up a 
short flight of steps, into a part of the building 
which seemed to be arranged on a somewhat 
different plan from the side facing on the main 
street. The servant leading the way, stopped 
at a door, and indicated that this was their des- 
tination. Carl entered, and the girl, excusing 
herself, went away with the maid. 

Carl saw that this room had been fitted up 
with some attempt to meet the requirements of 
Europeans, as all foreigners from the Western 
world are called. 


74 


JOE SAXTON 


It was evidently a room for the entertain- 
ment of guests, and not one usually occupied 
by inmates of the house. 

A metal dish of radish-seed oil, with a wick 
protruding from a lip at one side, served as a 
lamp. Around this, attached to a frame, which 
also formed the legs of the stand, inside of 
which the lamp rested, were paper sides, one 
of which was capable of being moved up and 
down for opening and closing. 

Two ordinary windows on sides at right 
angles to each other, showed that the room was 
at the corner of the house. These looked out 
into narrow dark spaces, and being open, 
showed a grating of iron bars. Through these 
windows came faintly from the streets, the 
sounds of merrymaking. 

Carl sat down on the edge of a couch, and a 
servant entered and placed before him a small 
lacquered table, about two by two and a half 
feet square, and twelve or fourteen inches high. 
Another brought in a fire box, with its miniature 
Mt. Fuji of ashes in the centre, surmounted by 
a half buried coal of fire. As she pushed it 
towards him over the matting, a third entered 
with a tray bearing tea-pot and cups, with small 
lacquered dishes of sweetmeats, and placed 
it on the table before him. A fourth now 


IN JAPAN. 


75 


appeared, whose business seemed to be to see 
that all was right. Other articles were brought 
in, as the servant girls came and went, never 
hurrying about anything, especially as to going 
away. One saw to the lamp, another adjusted 
the pillows and smoothed the covering of the 
couch, while a third lowered and raised the 
window sashes. All chatted and seemed dis- 
posed to make things pleasant by well chosen 
compliments. 

Carl moved about the room a little, trying 
his best to appear at his ease, kindly but cov- 
ertly gratifying the Japanese curiosity to see the 
“ijinsan” on all sides, and to hear him talk. 

Presently there appeared at the entrance an- 
other. Carl scarcely recognized her at first. 
It seemed that in the short time she had been 
gone, she had changed everything she had worn 
before. 

As she entered, no woman could have been 
received with more evidence of respect by her 
friends and admirers, and no lady could have 
acknowledged it with more kindly grace. 

Every trace of paint and powder had disap- 
peared from her face and neck. Even the little 
vermillion patch on the lower lip was gone ; and 
her pretty, even teeth, when she smiled, were 


7 6 


JOE SAXTON 


more like pearls than ever, as she stood 
amongst her friends chatting pleasantly. 

Her dress now was simplicity itself. Her 
abundant black hair had been taken down, all 
ornaments removed, and it was now done up 
with a twist at the back, which brought into 
strong relief her small, shapely head, with its 
“ Mt. Fuji forehead,” one of the important 
“points” in estimating the beauty of a Japan- 
ese woman. 

Her kimono was a delicate shade of blue, 
almost white, of some soft material, lined with a 
darker stuff, seen in the wide sleeves and at 
the borders. The almost ever-present obi, was 
now absent; her drapery being kept together 
by one hand, while the other carried a fan. 


XIV. 


S Carl gazed at this oriental beauty, he 
saw in memory others, of a different 
type, it is true, in far distant lands; 
and compared them one with another, and 
not to the disadvantage of the one before 
him. 




IN JAPAN. 


77 


The maids came and went, bringing in the 
supper for two. The tea things being removed 
from the little table, and placed upon the floor, 
their places were taken by dishes containing 
the supper proper. One of these, a lacquered 
bowl, contained soup, almost colorless, in which 
were pieces of solid food of some kind floating 
about. Another contained small pieces of 
boiled fowl, taro, lotus and other vegetables, 
with little dumplings made from bean flour and 
chestnuts, the table being finally completely 
covered by small dishes, containing sauces, 
pickled radish, fried eel and thin slices of raw 
fish. There were no knives, forks, spoons, 
glassware or bread. The soup, or bouillon, 
which it most resembled, was to be drunk 
from the bowl; the solid pieces to be pushed 
into the mouth with the chop-sticks. The sake, 
in its bottle of white and blue china, sitting in 
a little wooden box near by, on the floor, was 
served hot, in the smallest of semi-transpar- 
ent cups. The tea was handed around in some- 
what larger china cups, on little bronze saucers 
having projections on opposite sides, which 
served for holding. 

These details always interested Carl wherev- 
er he encountered them ; and for the first few 
times they were anything but reassuring to a 


7 8 


JOE SAXTON 


hungry man hoping to make out a meal. It 
all seemed so much like children’s playing at 
housekeeping. He soon found, however, that 
if he did anything like justice to what was set 
before him, there came in time the comfortable 
sense of having dined. 

During the meal, which took an hour, much 
interest was shown by the girls in Carl’s awk- 
ward use of the chopsticks; seeing which, he 
pretended to be less skilful than he really was. 
All laughed at him, and one after another in- 
sisted on helping him with some special morsel, 
to his mouth. He drank several cups of that 
delicate Japanese tea, the most sleep-destroying 
potion yet discovered, a fact he well knew, but 
did not consider on this occasion; for little in- 
deed did he expect to sleep that night anyway. 
He was growing reckless, and when one of the 
maids held up the sake bottle, he reached for it 
with an eagerness that surprised her. Draw- 
ing back, instead of surrendering the bottle, 
she picked up and handed him the cup, which 
had been in front of him all the time. This she 
filled for him, and he drank it at a gulp, almost 
forgetting to bow to her and the others, or 
to thank the waiter with the polite “oki ni 
arigato.” 


IN JAPAN. 


79 


After emptying the cup, he dipped it in the 
silver bowl of water, for that purpose, on the 
table, and handed it across to the girl opposite, 
who received it with a low bow and the usual 
‘‘ thank you,” and held it towards him, while he 
poured from the bottle. With another bow she 
carried it to her lips; and though the tiny ves- 
sel had not been more than half full, Carl saw 
that she only tasted it, deftly letting the re- 
mainder mingle with the water in the bowl, as 
she rinsed the cup in turn. 

Carl drank three bottles of the potent liquor, 
called “wine of rice,” bearing some resem- 
blance to a heavy sherry, with a peculiar flavor; 
and to his surprise he scarcely felt it; nor until 
the next day was he fully aware of what he had 
done. 

As the meal drew to a close, and the serv- 
ants began to remove the dishes, he longed 
for his old brown meerschaum, — a beautifully 
carved dog’s head as large as his fist, with its 
amber mouth-piece and bands of gold, inscribed 
with certain initials and a date— one of the 
prize pieces from the Vienna Exposition, years 
ago, and the gift of a dear friend. 

Instead of this the girl produced a silver and 
bronze article, little more than a long tube, it 
seemed to Carl, with a small crook at one end 


8o 


JOE SAXTON 


forming the bowl, capable of containing a pel- 
let of fuzzy fine-cut tobacco, which was of light 
color, and about the size of a pea. This pipe 
she proceeded to fill from a little pouch, more 
like a lady’s portmonnaie than anything else, 
and, touching the protruding pellet to the live 
coal representing the crater of Mount Fuji in 
the fire-box near at hand, she drew one small 
puff, and neatly wiping the mouth-piece, passed 
it over the table to Carl. He took the pipe 
with a bow of thanks, and a faint forced smile 
upon his face, and drawing two or three puffs — 
with no sign of finish — the girl reached for it, 
accompanying the motion by a look of appre- 
hension. Carl surrendered the toy, thinking 
she perhaps wished to finish the load herself. 
Instead, however, she emptied it into the sec- 
tion of bamboo, standing in one corner of the 
box, that also contained the fire-box, giving the 
pipe two or three short taps on the rim of the 
box. Then blowing through the tube, she pro- 
ceeded to refill and hand the pipe over as be- 
fore, saying, however, as she did so, this time : 

“Only three breaths.” 

This procedure was repeated several times, 
while the servants were putting things to rights 
about the room, when Carl declined the pipe, 
having had enough of this “playing at smoke.” 


IN JAPAN. 


81 


The girl now took her turn, smoking two or 
three pipes, chatting pleasantly the while mostly 
with the other women. 

After the table was removed from in front of 
of him, Carl got up from his seat on the couch, 
stretched himself, and walked about the room, 
trying to think. 


XV. 


was getting late, and the servants, 
three in number now, arranged them- 
selves at last in line near the sliding 
door, where, with a concerted movement, all 
bowed low, uttered the good night, “ sayonara,” 
backed out of the room and closed the screen. 

Carl stood looking after them a moment, and 
then went over and sat down again on the side 
of the bed. Placing his elbows on his kees, he 
dropped his head into his hands, partly cover- 
ing his face, and remained motionless. 

Before leaving the house Carl determined to 
learn, if possible, something more of Bamboo’s 
history. So, presently, he said: 

“Sit here. I want to talk to you.” 




82 


JOE SAXTON 


She did as she was told, and sat down by his 
side. 

“Tell me your name.” 

“They call me here the “Young Bamboo;” 
but that is not my real name.” 

“ Why do they call you that? ” 

“Because I came from the country, and they 
think it fits me, because I am so tall and 
straight.” 

“When did you come here?” asked Carl. 

“When the plum blossoms were falling.” 

“This year?” 

“Yes.” 

“ Who put you here ? ” 

“The sake merchant.” 

Carl gave up his questioning, as the hour 
was late. In fact, while she answered his last 
question, the clock in the tower on the house 
rang out twelve. As the last stroke was 
counted, another bell, somewhere in the neigh- 
borhood, took up the measure, but in an entirely 
different tone, and ceased at the number nine, 
indicating in their different ways, both the mod- 
ern and ancient Japanese modes of marking the 
hour of midnight. 

The keeper of the house had said that all 
would be quiet at midnight. Perhaps that was 
the rule, but it certainly did not work on this 


IN JAPAN. 


83 


occasion. It seemed rather to be the signal for 
the beginning of fresh revelry. From the 
street, the court, the passages and the rooms 
on all sides, came sounds of festivity and frolic. 
Songs of men and women, mingled with the 
sounds of all the kinds of musical instruments 
known to the East, and last, though not least, 
the periodical knocking together of sticks of 
some sharply sonorous hard-wood, by the 
watchmen, as they passed up and down, in and 
out of the house, would have kept a corpse 
awake. 

But Carl needed none of these to banish 
sleep that night. The throbbing of his own 
heart, driving the blood in torrents to his over- 
wrought brain, produced a species of delirium, 
at times, as he lay upon his bed, making it all 
seem like some hideous dream. 

At the first streak of dawn he arose, and 
dressing himself quietly stole away, meeting no 
one as he went out, except the sleepy guard at 
the entrance, where he put on his shoes. A 
short walk through the street, which showed 
on every side signs of recent revelry, brought 
him to the gate-way, with its Chinese characters 
over the top. Here, securing a jinrikisha, in 
which the owner had been sitting asleep, with 
his feet upon the ground, he was soon trundling 


8 4 


JOE SAXTON 


along towards his hotel, nearly an hour’s ride 
away. What his thoughts were, as he rode 
through the streets that morning, his head roll- 
ing from side to side in weariness and pain, we 
will not pretend to say. Perhaps he scarcely 
thought at all. 


XVI. 


this time, the ship to which the doctor 
had been ordered was cruising in the 
Western Pacific, and he had expected 
to join her at Hongkong. But, on arriving in 
Japan, he was informed at the ministry, that she 
had left that port and gone to Korea, and that 
it was expected she would touch at a Japanese 
port on her return. 

The uncertainty of her movements was a 
source of anxiety to Carl on several accounts. 
One of which was, that his finances were run- 
ning low. It is true, that on leaving Europe 
he had drawn advance mileage ; but his stay in 
Japan had been so prolonged, that he feared, 
it would soon become necessary to get an 
advance upon his pay, if he remained ashore. 



IN JAPAN. 


85 


Had it not been for this financial embarrass- 
ment, perhaps the solution of the problem, on 
which his mind dwelt all the day following his 
night in the Yoshiwara, might have been easier. 
He could think of no way to benefit the poor 
girl who had so excited his sympathies, except 
the usual one of buying her out of her slavery. 
And this was impracticable. 

He well knew the law as to voluntary or 
involuntary service of any kind in Japan, to 
leave which, without legal release, would be 
equivalent to desertion from the Army or 
Navy in almost any other country; with this 
difference: that it constitutes in Japan a civil 
crime, rendering all who have to do with it 
amenable to the law of the land. 

Stealing the girl away from the house, and 
getting her out of the country, did not at first 
occur to him. 

He could think of no friend in all Japan to 
whom he could go with such a matter for assist- 
ance, or even advice, without exciting remark, 
and perhaps bringing discredit upon the service 
to which he belonged. And so the day went by. 
He was not feeling very well anyhow, and as 
night approached there came over him a sense 
of depression impossible to shake off. 


86 


JOE SAXTON 


This feeling, as a physician, he explained to 
himself several times as a clearly defined case 
of “ katzenj (winter ” the cause of which was not 
very hard to remember. 

After dinner, for which he had very little ap- 
petite, he got out his old meerschaum and sat 
on the upper veranda, looking out through 
the *trees at one side of the hotel, across the 
canal, into a tea-house opposite. He watched 
the people come and go, on foot and in jinri- 
kishas. Once in a while a sampan passed 
along the canal, with its peculiar rocking mo- 
tion and no sound of oars. 

The moon, after a while, came up from behind 
the tile-roofed houses to the East. “One day 
older than the full,” thought Carl, as it began 
to shed its soft light over the city around him. 

The smoke from his old friend, the dog’s 
head meerschaum, with its amber mouth-piece 
and band of gold, seemed to have a soothing 
and quieting effect upon his nerves, and he was 
soon dreaming. Presently his ear caught the 
sound of the tuning of a samisen from the tea- 
house opposite, and with it came the vision of 
himself seated on a couch playing at smoke, as 
the night before, and the girl on the other side 
of the little black table. 


IN JAPAN. 87 

Suddenly came the thought — “the Sake 
Merchant of the Willow Bridge!” 

Had Carl heard at that instant the scream of 
a woman in distress, he would not have been 
more affected. He sprang to his feet, and pull- 
ing out his watch, walked quickly to the end of 
the veranda, across which the moon was shin- 
ing brightly, and letting the light fall full upon 
the plain black and white dial, read the time. 

Twenty minutes past eight. He thought of 
the distance: — six miles away. Too late per- 
haps; but he would know the worst. A mo- 
ment later he was in a jinrikisha with the 
strongest team of the hotel in front ; and as it 
swung out of the gate into the moonlit street, 
he exclaimed : 

“Thunder Gate! Go quickly! Double pay!” 

Thunder Gate was the name of a locality, 
about half way to the Yoshiwara. But Carl 
had a double object in giving that as his des- 
tination to the jinrikisha men at the hotel. One 
was, it being a hot night, that he was anxious 
to spare the men as much as possible ; and the 
other, that no one at the hotel need know 
whither he had gone. 

Arriving at the place mentioned, he got out, 
walked a few rods and took another vehicle — 
of which there were always plenty ready for 


88 


JOE SAXTON 


hire — and, giving his final destination, with the 
same injunctions as to speed and promise of ex- 
tra pay, he was, in another twenty minutes, 
passing through the gate having over the top in 
gas jets, the Chinese characters already men- 
tioned. 

The festival, lasting for several days, was still 
in full blast, having this night, however, the ad- 
ditional attraction of elaborate fire-works, in an 
open space near the hospital ; and the throng of 
merrymakers was greater than ever. 

As Carl approached his destination, the clock 
in the tower above struck nine. And, when he 
came within view of the exhibition room, with 
its elevated floor, he saw, that although it was 
well filled, the girls were not all seated around 
as they were the night before. Most of them 
were standing in groups, or moving about in 
the room; and his quick eye detected that 
Bamboo was not there. 


IN JAPAN. 


89 


XVII. 


HE room to which Carl was shown this 
time, differed somewhat from the one 
he had occupied the night before. It 
was smaller and at the front of the house. 

In the centre, a square mosquito net was 
suspended near the ceiling by strings attached 
to the corners, the sides being thrown up on 
the top. It had a folding screen across the 
side next to the entrance, which it was neces- 
sary to pass around in entering or leaving the 
room, and which shut out the view from the 
passage when the sliding door was open. 

Soon, two servants came in, bringing a tray 
with tea and the usual fire-box, with its live 
coal in the centre of the ashes. These were 
placed upon the matting, and the servants went 
out. 

Carl was not sure whether he had seen these 
same girls the night before or not; but he 
greeted them with a smile and a pleasant word 
or two, as they came and went. 

It seemed to him that he waited quite a long 
time for the coming of Bamboo, though in reality 
it was not long. He put in the time moving 
about the room, and standing at the side next 




9 ° 


JOE SAXTON 


to the street, into which he could look, and 
was thus occupied, when he became conscious 
of the presence of some one near. There was 
no one to be seen, but he saw, over the top of 
the screen, that the sliding door was open far 
enough to admit a person ; and as he looked, 
there came from behind it the one for whom 
he was waiting. 

c> 

There was no rustling of skirts, or tap of tiny 
boot, to herald her coming. No phantom could 
have been more noiseless, as in soft kimono 
and bare feet she appeared to him and drop- 
ped upon her knees making the usual saluta- 
tion. As she looked up, with a smile in an- 
swer to his acknowledgment, her face, Carl 
thought, would have been less sad, had it been 
entirely immobile. 

As Carl approached, she arose to her feet, 
and in compliance with his evident desire, gave 
him her hand. He held it a moment, looking 
at her, and then said : 

“You see I have come back. Did you think 
I never would? ” 

“Sodes,” she replied. 

“ But you don’t seem to be very glad to see 
me. How is that ? ” 


“Ijinsan was very kind to me.” 


IN JAPAN. 


91 


“I tried to be,” said Carl, “but don’t you 
like me any more ? ” he added. 

The girl looked away, but did not answer, 
and the forced smile upon her face disappeared. 

Carl was puzzled. He had come with a very 
definite object in view, the wisdom of which he 
now began to doubt. It was to find out all he 
could about the girl, and see if something could 
not be done for her release before he left 
Japan. Perhaps the case was not so bad after 
all, he thought. And — well! he had got the 
best of that fellow from the Willow Bridge, 
anyway. That was some comfort. Suddenly 
he asked : 

“Has the sake merchant been here to-day? ” 

“No,” said the girl, with a shudder, “but he 
is coming to-night ; and I am so afraid.” 

“Afraid of what?” asked Carl in astonish- 
ment. “Are you afraid of me?” 

“I am not afraid, if ijinsan will let me stay 
here,” was the answer. 

“O ! that’s it, is it? I understand it all now. 
All right, little woman.” 

“Thank you,” was all she said. 

“ Now let us go out to the veranda and see 
the procession,” said Carl. 

During the course of the foregoing conversa- 
tion, the maids had come and gone several times, 


9 2 


JOE SAXTON 


bringing in various things, and the girl and Carl 
had seated themselves on cushions near the 
window. Carl was the first to rise, and reach- 
ing down, took the girl by the hand gallantly, to 
assist her to her feet. As he lifted her up, the 
wide kimono sleeve slipped back nearly to the 
shoulder, and Carl’s quick eye saw an unmis- 
takable bruise on her arm. 

The girl in great alarm tried to pull down the 
sleeve to hide the mark. Carl permitted her 
to do so and then asked : 

“ How did that come ? ” 

The girl was very much disconcerted. She 
hesitated a moment, then looking away, an- 
swered : “I had a fall.” 

Carl looked hard at her for a moment, and 
then asked : 

“ Did it hurt you anywhere else ? ” 

The girl again hesitated, then answered: 

“No.” 

Carl’s face darkened until all the refinement 
due to generations of gentle breeding had dis- 
appeared, and it became a modern reproduction 
of his savage old Saxon ancestors. Leaving 
the girl where she stood, he passed around the 
screen, closed the sliding door, pushing the 
screen close to it, indicating that the room was 
locked to all comers, and then went back to the 


IN JAPAN. 


93 


girl. With the gentle firmness of the physi- 
cian, but without a word, he now proceeded to 
examine her shoulders. 

The girl submitted in dumb consternation, 
anxiety depicted on every feature of her counte- 
nance. He turned her around to the light, 
passed his had gently over her back, pausing at 
several places, then lifting the kimono, indicat- 
ing that she might replace it, he stood in front 
of her and said : 

“ Girl, you have been whipped .” 

The girl burst into tears. 

“ And you lied about it. Now tell me the 
truth. Did you not lie when you said the sake 
merchant had not been here to-day?” 

“ No,” said the girl, looking him frankly in 
the face. 

4 ‘Tell me who whipped you, then.” 

The girl was silent, still shedding tears. 

“Tell me,” he insisted; “I am bound to 
know. Was it a man or a woman ? ” 

“It was not a woman,” said the girl. 

“ Who was it? ” 

“I may not tell ; I may not tell.” 

“Very well, then,” said Carl, “I will find out 
some other way,” and he started as if to leave 
the room. 


94 


JOE SAXTON 


The girl, now thoroughly frightened, grasped 
him by the arm and exclaimed: 

“If ijinsan will not go, I will tell him.” 

“All right,” said Carl, as he turned back, 
and in compliance with an intimation, sat down 
with her upon a cushion on the floor. 


XVIII. 


OTWITHSTANDING Carl had com- 
plied with the girl’s request, she 
seemed still reluctant to say anything 
about the whipping. So he questioned her. 

“What were you whipped for? — What had 
you done ? ” 

“Because I told the truth about ijinsan last 
night.” 

“But they could not punish you for that.’' 

“Yes; they would not believe.” 

“ Why do you stay here to be punished by 
brutes, when you are innocent ? ” 

“What do you mean?” asked the girl. 

“ I mean for you to leave this house, slave, or 
no slave,” said Carl with earnest significance. 

“To go with you?” asked the girl eagerly. 



IN JAPAN. 


95 


“Perhaps so; but anyhow, you must be got 
out of this place, and that right away.” 

The girl looked puzzled for a little time, and 
then asked : 

“Could ijinsan give me work where I could 
see him sometimes ?” 

“Perhaps so,” said Carl; “what could you 
do?” 

“Almost anything.” Then after a pause the 
girl added, “does ijinsan live in the mountains, 
in his own country ? ” 

“No, not now,” said Carl with a great lump 
in his throat. “ My business is on the sea. But 
why do you ask? ” 

“I was born there,” she said; and looking 
upwards, she continued, “if ijinsan has lived 
in the mountains I do not see how he can ever 
like the water. O, it is terrible! The wind 
blows hard sometimes; and then there are 
fishes in it! ” and the girl shuddered. 

Carl did not fully comprehend her meaning 
at that time, and after reflecting a moment, 
said : 

“Tell me about your life. You say you were 
born in the mountains.” 

“Yes, I was born in the mountains,” she 
said, and then went on telling her simple story 
in Japanese, some of her statements being 


9 6 


JOE SAXTON 


made in reply to questions by her listener, 
which may be omitted. “We lived there a long, 
long time. I was eleven when we came down 
to the river and did not go back. When we 
lived in the mountains father took care of the 
pheasants and the beautiful spotted deers we 
sometimes saw in the forest. The foxes though 
— he tied strings to small trees that would bend 
down, and caught them. They were always dead 
when we found them. The reason he did this 
was because the Emperor wanted him to. He 
said they would eat all the eggs the pheasants 
had in the nest — not leaving even one. And, 
sometimes they would kill the mother, too, 
when she was waiting for the little ones to 
come out of the eggs so that they could run 
away with her.” 

“ Whenever we found a dead fox, father took 
the skin off, and we would put ashes and bitter 
salt on it, and rub it with stones when it was 
drying, which made it soft and nice and white 
on the side where the hair was not. Then, 
when father went to the city, he would take it 
along, and would always bring back something 
pretty for us. Once he brought me a beautiful 
obi.” 

“Yes, we had two dogs; but they could not 
catch the foxes. They knew where they lived, 


IN JAPAN. 


97 


though ; aud would show father the right place. 
And sometimes he could dig the earth away 
and get them out, so that the dogs could kill 
them. Our dogs were not like those they have 
in the city. One was bigger than the other; — 
their bodies were of gray color, and they had 
yellow legs, with black lips and eyebrows. 
Their ears did not bend over. And they would 
bite anything we were afraid of ; but they would 
not bite us. The big one would bite other dogs 
though, sometimes.” 

“ One day when the small one was shut up 
in the charcoal place, three other dogs came, 
and our big dog quarreled with them, and they 
made a great deal of noise. Then they began 
to bite and hold on to each other, and they all 
rolled down the mountain.” 

“When our dog came home, one of his legs 
was sick ; and blood came out of his neck ; 
but the strange dogs never came to our house 
again.” 

“O! yes. I saw a bear once. My little 
sister was with me, and she saw it too. W e 
were both frightened and screamed. The dogs 
went to the bear and drove it away. They 
made a great deal of noise, which we could 
hear away up in the mountain. The dogs did 


9 8 


JOE SAXTON 


not come home until night, and they were both 
sick for a long time.” 

“We knew it was a bear. We had seen 
their skins. It stood up just like our larger dog 
did whenever we would be eating something. 
But we did not have anything to give the bear, 
so we ran away.” 

“We were looking for the place where a hen 
had put her eggs to hide them from us. She 
was afraid we would take them all away, like 
the fox; but we never did that. We always 
left one, if she had found a good place.” 

“Yes, we had many chickens, sometimes. 
But when they got big, father always took them 
away to the city with the charcoal. They would 
eat them there, he said. W e could not ; we 
pitied them so much.” 

“When they were little they were very 
pretty, and we took care of them all the time. 
Sometimes one would get sick, then I would 
put it in the basket and give it boiled rice in its 
mouth, and keep it in a warm place until it got 
well, and could go with the mother and the 
other little ones again.” 

“ No — we did not have cows. Other people 
had them, in the valley by the river; we used 
to see them there. I do not think they are very 
nice. I do not know.” 


IN JAPAN. 


99 


“Horses — yes, indeed. We had two. We 
used to get their milk sometimes; when they 
were mothers. It was sweet. But O! — did 
you ever ride on a horse ? It is lovely. It is 
not like a sampan. It does not make sick, like 
on the water. And there is no danger, when 
the horse is kind; and both of ours were that.” 

“Father made the charcoal, in the mountain, 
from the trees that were sick ; or that the wind 
pushed down. He chopped them up, and put 
the sticks all together, and covered them with 
earth, and built a fire in the big mound. Then 
it smoked a long time ; and after that the sticks 
were black. The same as they use here in the 
city.” 

“While the mound was smoking, we all made 
the mats of the straw, to wrap the charcoal in, 
when it was done. Then we tied it on the 
horses, and father took it down the mountain to 
the river where the rice-fields are. When I 
was big enough, father used to take me along 
to bring the horses back. O ! it was nice. He 
tied the horses together, and would put me on 
one, and they would go straight home. Some- 
times they would stop a little while to bite the 
leaves or grass, then I would scold them with a 
stick, and they would go on. O ! I love horses. 
Don’t you? ” 


IOO 


JOE SAXTON 


“Yes. But why did you come to the city?” 

“Father wanted us to go to school. The 
Emperor is very kind, and even girls may learn 
to read now. But it is hard, and I did not 
learn much.” 

“I tried to learn to be a geisha, too, at first ; 
and I was a “little one,” sometimes. I could 
beat the drums and dance some of the songs, 
when nobody was looking. But when the thing 
happened, I had to get some money for my 
work ; so I was maid-servant for a while to a 
gentleman at Uyeno ; but his wife was not 
pleased, and I went back home.” 

“ Mother got me another place, but the lady 
said I looked into the street too much, and sent 
me back. Then I tried to sew. But they would 
not let me finish the kimono.” 

“After that I tried to cook. Not like we do 
in the country; but the way they do in the city; 
and they said I built too much fire and spoiled 
the rice, and other things, and used up too 
much charcoal, which I do not think was true. 
There is plenty of charcoal in the mountains, 
and people are glad to sell it cheap in the city. 
Is it not true? ” 

“ Doubtless. But how did you come to be 
here in the Yoshiwara?” 


IN JAPAN. 


IOI 


“We did not come to the city at first. We 
lived by the river at the village, two years, 
where father got the boat. We did not like 
living there, though. It was not nice making 
garden in the water, where the rice and lotus 
grow ; so father took us all in his boat, and we 
came to the city.” 

“Father sold the horses to buy the boat, 
which was a great mistake, I think.” 

“After we came to the city, the thing hap- 
pened ; so we could not do as we did before. 

“You spoke of the ‘thing happening,' what 
was that ? 99 

“That was when father was lost, on the river. 
And it is the hardest of all to bear. We have 
no place of our own where we can go to make 
offerings and pray, as other people do.” 

“ How is that? ” 

“When the water jumped over the side and 
filled the boat, it was loaded with bricks and 
sand, and went deep down, and father went with 
it, and he was never found. So that we know 
the fishes have eaten him. He was only buried 
by the water that killed him, and so he left 
no grave where we might pray and make our 
offerings.” 


102 


JOE SAXTON 


Her listener thought of his own calling, and 
with a grim smile, wondered if that would be 
his own fate some day. But he only said : 
“Tell me more about your experience here.” 
“After father died, I could do nothing. The 
sake merchant bought me, and placed me in 
the Yoshiwara.” 

“When did you say you came ? ” 

“When the plum trees were in bloom.” 
“That must have been in February. How 
long were you in the hospital ? ” 

“Two months. The bath was very hot, and 
I did not put on kimono quick enough. So, 
they sent me to the end of the street. Ijinsan 
knows the rest; knows all the rest.” 


XIX. 


URING the recital of the girl’s story, 
Carl was deeply interested. Some- 
how his mind seemed to be clearing 
up, and his brain becoming more ready to an-’ 
swer to the demands he made upon it. Still 
he felt as if he was facing a critical surgical 
operation, in which it is always desirable to 
know just what cuts are to follow, before the 
first one is made. 




IN JAPAN. 


103 


He would take time to think, and, rising from 
the floor, he said : 

“Let us go out on the veranda and see the 
people in the street.” 

The girl got up as he removed the screen, 
and followed him out. 

Later, as he sat upon an iron chair, with his 
elbows on the rail, looking into the street be- 
low, the girl standing by, talking to some one 
near her, he saw the tall figure of a man 
wearing a white European costume, with a 
straw hat. He was moving along through the 
crowd, and was accompanied by a geisha; and 
immediately following them were two other 
geisha, with another man, also dressed in 
European clothes, but evidently a Japanese. 

As Carl looked, wondering who the foreigner 
might be, and thinking there was something 
familiar about his figure and walk, the tall man 
turned his head, and speaking to the one be- 
hind him, said, in English : 

“Tanny! Isn’t she a daisy?” 

There was no mistaking that voice, and Carl 
had found his man. 

He watched the party until he was satisfied 
that they were leaving the district ; and then, 
getting up he, said to the girl : 

“Let us go in, we must have some supper.” 


104 


JOE SAXTON 


The maids looked a little puzzled ; not under- 
standing his last words ; and one of them said : 

“The next room can be added to this one, if 
the gentleman wishes.” 

“All right,” said Carl; “but where is that 
girl with the dimple in her cheek, who was here 
last night. She belongs at the Kirihan, I know. 
Is she in the house to-night ? ” 

“I think so,” said the maid, “she was here a 
little while ago.” 

“Tell her to come here,” said Carl. 

In a moment she appeared, and Carl said : 

“ Go to the tea-house and tell them that the 
French Doctor wants two geisha here, and sup- 
per for the party, two bottles of beer, and a 
couple of cigars. I want ichi ban geisha , — do 
you understand? — and no sake.” 

“ Hai,” said the servant, all smiles. 

“I’ll lighten up this business a little,” Carl 
added, to himself. It need hardly be said his 
spirits were rising. He was beginning to see a 
little way ahead. The sailor had caught sight 
of the soldier, and was feeling better. 

The servants took out the partition between 
the two rooms, throwing them into one, making 
quite a spacious apartment. They brought in 
several additional lamps, in their paper screens 
on stands, and placed them about the room; 


IN JAPAN. 


I0 5 

also an armful of bright colored cushions. 
Flower-pots were brought in. Some having no 
blossoms on the green, brown or yellow plants 
they contained. Several held grotesque dwarf 
pine trees that looked as if they were having a 
hard struggle for life, with as much, or more, 
of their roots than their branches above the 
earth, which was mainly covered with moss in 
the boxes. 

It was interesting to note how the few things, 
so skilfully arranged, could lighten up the 
place, and give it an air of cheerfulness and 
festivity. 

Carl took in the situation as he moved about 
the room, and waited. 

Among other things, a man brought in what 
was evidently from its shape a samisen in its 
case ; also a bundle, which he placed in a cor- 
ner, and went out. This last, afterwards devel- 
oped into three drums, with a frame- work or 
stand for one, the smallest of the three being 
larger than the original bundle. 

The small, low, black table, of the night be- 
fore, was again produced, and a pile of cushions 
placed beside it. 

Presently, there appeared at the door, which 
was wide open, a woman, rather tall for a Jap- 
anese, with two little girls. The latter seemed 


io 6 


JOE SAXTON 


to be about twelve or thirteen years of age. 
The woman had prominent eyes, with high 
cheek bones, and a pretty mouth, with a firm 
expression. She was dressed as a geisha, and 
in perfect taste, as were also the two little girls ; 
though the latter wore the brighter colors. As 
they entered, all made the usual salutation, and 
rising, the woman came across the room to 
Carl, and said : 

“I have brought two little ones with me, 
though you may only want one. We can send 
one away if you do not want them both.” 

“They look bright,” said Carl, “can they 
do much?” 

“Yes,” said the geisha, “they are learning. 
One plays the drums very nicely ; but the other 
is the best dancer. They can dance together 
well.” 

“All right,” said Carl, “we will keep them 
both. I want the Wrestler’s Dance to-night. 
Do you think they could teach it to me ? ” 

“O, yes, and they will be very happy. They 
have not danced to-night, and are not at all 
tired. We had been out with a party to see 
the fireworks when your message came ; and as 
we were all dressed I brought them both along. 
I am glad you are pleased.” 


IN JAPAN. 


107 


This being settled, the leader at once pro- 
ceeded to the business of making things pleas- 
ant. The little girls, making a pretense of a 
quarrel about certain privileges, appealed to 
Carl to decide the question ; while the woman 
seated herself with the samisen in her lap, 
ready to play, sing, talk or be silent, as might 
best suit the guest. 

One of the little girls got out the drums and 
proceeded to assemble the parts and tune them 
up, pasting bits of paper on the head of one 
and tightening up or loosening the cords of the 
others to suit. The ordinary short, or flat 
drum, was placed in a sloping position on legs 
in front of her; while the others, like hour- 
glasses in shape, were held, one in her hand, 
by the cords, over her right shoulder, the 
other, partly on her lap, and under the left 
arm. These instruments were struck with the 
ends of the fingers, sometimes in very rapid 
succession, and with their varying tones, made 
by grasping the cords more or less tightly, 
producing a very peculiar effect. 

While the little girl was tuning up her 
drums, the woman sat, gently touching the 
strings of the samisen in her lap, and giving 
an occasional word of direction. 


io8 


JOE SAXTON 


When all was ready, a song with accom- 
paniment was sung about two lovers, who, 
though separated a long distance, still had a 
peculiar means of communication. Then fol- 
lowed a dance by the two little girls, the 
woman singing and playing, 

Another dance, by one little girl, repre- 
sented “Springtime” and the “Falling of the 
plum blossoms,” which she was supposed to 
catch upon her fan and play with, fanning them 
through the air towards her companions. This 
dance Carl thought especially beautiful. 

The grace of some of these dancers, and the 
silent ease with which they whirl around and 
move about, is wonderful. This, too, in a 
dress which would seem to confine their limbs 
to the narrowest possible limits of movement. 


XX. 


T may not be out of the way here to 
explain that the geisha are the act- 
resses of Japan. And yet this west- 
ern appellation, like many others, does not 
accurately designate their calling. 



IN JAPAN. IO9 

A great many of them are in constant 
employment, without ever being seen upon 
the public stage. Their performances are 
always given in private, their audience often 
consisting of but one person. When the 
geisha are personated on the stage the parts 
are always taken by men. 

The geisha may perhaps be more accurately 
termed the entertainers of Japan. 

Their business is clearly defined by custom. 
They are nearly all under contract to man- 
agers, or keepers; and they go wherever their 
services are required. Like actresses all the 
world over, wherever there is the most money 
and festivity they will be found in the greatest 
numbers. And again, like their artistic sisters 
of the western world, they are all supposed to 
be young and single. Still it is believed the 
parallel goes further, and that many a worth- 
less fellow is supported in ease and luxury by 
their labor, either within or without the bonds 
of marriage. There is no other way to explain 
the large debts they sometimes owe to their 
managers, and which have the effect of keeping 
them in bondage for an indefinite term. 

That they are, as a rule, honest, good 
women, like their sister bread-winners in every 
other part of the world, there is no reason to 


no 


JOE SAXTON 


doubt. That they are among the brightest 
and most gifted women of Japan will not be 
questioned. 

Often the geisha marry well ; and sometimes 
it costs the lover a handsome figure to buy out 
a contract, and perhaps pay a large debt to 
the manager besides. 

During the course of an entertainment, if it 
happens to be where the geisha live, or in the 
neighborhood, these women may change their 
costumes several times during the evening. 
This of course involves their having many 
dresses, and large expenses in providing them. 
Frequently when called to an entertainment, 
the character of which they are not sure of 
beforehand, they will appear in the most taste- 
ful neutral colors, with little ornamentation. 
Later, however, when the wine begins to flow, 
and the guests are singing and dancing, as they 
often do, the geisha will appear in brighter 
colors, one after another, their absence for a 
time being scarcely noticed. 

The style of doing up their hair is peculiar, 
and entirely different from that of either the 
married woman, the “ daughter, ” — as the un- 
married woman is called, — the servant, or the 
oiran . Usually they have men servants to 
carry their instruments when they go about, 


IN JAPAN. 


Ill 


and many of them seem to be quite “fine 
ladies” in their way. 

One marked characteristic of the geisha is 
their apparent freedom from professional jeal- 
ousy. Another is their friendship and sym- 
pathy for their less fortunate sisters in less 
honorable callings. 

The freedom of the geisha in conversation 
seems to an Occidental remarkable. But this 
doubtless comes from the desire to please in 
their profession. Though as a rule they are 
strictly devoted to business, many of them are 
also capable of warm impulses and generous 
self-sacrifice. 

On the night under consideration, during the 
supper, — which was more or less mixed up 
with other features of the entertainment, — all 
laughed and chatted on terms of perfect 
equality, the servants coming and going, appa- 
rently enjoying the fun as well as anybody. 
Among other things, one of the little girls in- 
sisted upon teaching Carl a game of forfeit 
played with the hands, while the other per- 
formed tricks of legerdemain with a handker- 
chief. 

At one time, while Carl was much engaged 
with one of the little girls on his left, the 


1 1 2 


JOE SAXTON 


woman at his right, wishing to attract his atten- 
tion, touched him on the arm, saying suddenly, 
what to Carl sounded like “jo san .” Carl 
turned to her with a look of surprise, when 
she at once corrected herself, by calling him 
*■ 'ijinsan ,” at the same time blushing, as Carl 
thought, in her confusion. Now Carl’s senses 
were all awake, and though he pretended to 
take no notice of the lapsis, he was sure she 
was thinking of some one else when she first 
spoke to him. 

When the entertainment was about at its 
height, the clock in the tower struck twelve, 
and the other bell sounded out its nine musical 
swells. 

The little drummer at once began to disas- 
semble her instruments, and the leader slipped 
her samisen into its case, saying, 

“We must go now.” 

“How so?” said Carl. “I have not had a 
smoke yet.” 

“That is the regulation,” was the reply. 
“No geisha in the house after midnight,” she 
added with a significant laugh. 

“Why! — I heard them last night, long after 
that time, it seemed to me,” said Carl. 

“Some of the girls here play a little. Young 
Bamboo can drum nicely, and she knows 


IN JAPAN. 


1 1 3 

several pretty songs/’ said the geisha, with a 
smile at the dark girl sitting near. 

As they took their leave, all saying the 
“sayonara” together, Carl went out with them, 
seeing them to the head of the stairs and pat- 
ting one of the little ones on the shoulder as 
they walked along. 

When he returned to the room, shortly after, 
the Young Bamboo was not there. He lit a 
cigar at the crater of the little Mount Fuji in 
the box, and went out on the balcony. 

The streets were not now nearly so crowded 
as an hour before. Still there was a good deal 
going on, and Carl detected signs of intoxica- 
tion in some of the men passing along, — a rare 
thing in Japan. 

It was the last night of the festival, and the 
gaiety was dying out. The electric lights had 
been turned off, and the candles in some of the 
lanterns had burned down, showing here and 
there breaks in the festoons and strings across 
and up and down the street. The moon was 
shining brightly, however, and there seemed to 
be a depth to the sky above which Carl did not 
remember to have ever noticed before. The 
stars seemed much farther away than usual. 
Perhaps he was a little homesick. 


JOE SAXTON 


II 4 

During the evening the girl had been dressed 
in the costume usually worn in the afternoon 
by her class, before dressing for the exhibition 
at night, and in which they sometimes go upon 
the street. Her hair was drawn down over the 
ears and done up in some simple way at the 
back of the head, without ornamentation or the 
large pins generally worn. Her outer kimono 
or gown, somewhat large it seemed, had a wide 
collar, or fold, displaying the bright color of 
the lining which covered her shoulders. The 
sleeves, made of material of a soft gray color, 
were enormous in size, the fullness, having 
pockets, hung down at the sides to below the 
knees. The skirt was beautifully embroidered 
with some flowering vine in colored silk. 

When the girl returned to Carl all this had 
been changed, except perhaps the style of the 
hair. And she was again dressed as on the 
night before. 

As they stood together in the room, Carl said, 
“I have a plan to propose, and want to talk to 
you so that others cannot hear what we say.” 

Carl finally felt fairly confident that she 
understood the meaning of all he had told her, 
and that she was prepared for her part in the 
plan he had decided upon. 


IN JAPAN. 


“5 

He had explained to her that he was obliged 
to leave Japan for the sea, at once, or very 
soon; that she was to be got out of the house 
and city and hidden away in the mountains; 
that he would consult with a friend, whom he 
expected would assist in the escape, about the 
details, and let her know just what to do. 

At the mention of the mountains in Carl’s 
explanation the girl interrupted him: 

“O! — I have an uncle there, and perhaps I 
could lead the horses.’ ’ 

“That’s good,” said Carl, and then went on 
coaching her in the program. 


XXI. 

S Carl rode along in a jinrikisha through 
the streets, on the shady side in the 
morning air, he felt much better than 
when passing over the same ground in the 
same direction the morning before; and he 
several times caught himself humming the air 
and words from an old opera, “Home to our 
mountains.” 

After breakfast he went to the Legation to 
inquire as usual for any word from his ship. 



II 6 JOE SAXTON 

This time he was not disappointed. The Min- 
ister had received a telegram stating that she 
had arrived at Nagasaki, and would be coaling 
there for three or four days, and would then 
proceed on her cruise to the West and South. 

What Carl had been expecting and wishing 
for, now that it had come — as so often happens 
with hopes long deferred — was just what he 
did not want at that time. But there was no 
help for it, and he must leave at once. 

The first thing to be done, however, was to 
look up Joe Saxton. And not a moment was 
to be lost. He went first to one hotel and 
then to another, to find out where Joe was 
stopping. At the second he heard of him, but 
Joe had not been there for a month. One of 
the jinrikisha men attached to the hotel said, 
however, that he knew where the tall American 
lived, and offered to take Carl to the place. It 
was over near Uyeno Park, he said, and that 
he was with a Japanese gentleman. 

Carl was soon in the baby-carriage and 
trundling along. On arriving at the house, he 
found nobody at home but a couple of servants. 
One of them said, however, that the gentlemen 
would be home for tiffin, he was quite sure, as 
they had left directions as to what to get. The 
boy further said, in answer to questions, that he 


IN JAPAN. 


117 

thought they were going away that night, as 
they had sent for some washing that was out, 
to hurry it up. 

Carl was uncertain from the first as to the 
success of his plans, and the boy’s statement 
increased his apprehension. The American 
ex-soldier, with whom he had become well 
acquainted on board ship, was his main reliance 
in carrying out his scheme. He could not 
afford to lose a chance, so he decided to wait 
until Joe should come home. The two friends, 
Joe and Tanny, soon arrived. 

Joe was delighted to see his “brother” of 
the “Peking Family,” as he introduced him to 
“Tanny,” his “chief of staff,” and they were 
quickly comparing notes as to what they had 
seen in Japan. Both were anxious to talk, 
while Kosaku sat by listening, — doubtless com- 
paring these two types of a different nation- 
ality, speaking in a tongue that did not seem to 
him to belong to either. Nor yet was it his 
own language. In fact, they seemed to be 
talking in different languages, though they 
undoubtedly understood each other perfectly. 

“It is odd, doctor, that we did not run up 
against each other before, — we have been in 
so many of the same places,” said Joe. 

“I saw you once,” was the reply. 


n8 


JOE SAXTON 


“When was that ? ” 

“Last night,” said the doctor. 

“Why ! were you at the fireworks ? ” 

“No. But I saw you, all the same, walking 
along the street with a lady.” 

“O, ho!” said Saxton. “Then I know 
where you were, old fellow. Don’t say any- 
thing to me after this. I wouldn’t have thought 
it, though.” 

“That is just what I want to see you about 
especially, to-day, Saxton.” 

“ Well — / — what’s up, doctor? Can I do 
anything for you ? ” said Joe. 

“Perhaps so. Let me tell you all about it.” 

Kosaku got up, saying something about 
seeing to things connected with their pros- 
pective journey. 

“No,” said the doctor, looking at Joe. “I 
would like your friend to hear it, too. Perhaps 
he can help us very materially, anyhow, with 
his advice.” 

Kosaku resumed his seat, and from that on 
took as much interest in the conversation as 
Joe himself, saying, however, very little, and 
asking no questions. 

The doctor proceeded to give the main 
points of the circumstances with which the 


IN JAPAN. 


II 9 

reader is already acquainted, and explained his 
plan for the rescue of the girl. 

When he came to that part where the enter- 
tainment — ordered as a blind to the people in 
the house — was spoken of, and mentioned the 
leader of the geisha, as ichi ban in the district, 
Joe smiled and said, 

“Did you have her though, sure enough?” 

“Yes,” said the doctor, “sure enough.” 

“Well! I don’t doubt your word; but I 
rather guess you have been imposed upon. 
There can’t be two number ones , and she was 
with us last night. What was the name of 
your “ ichi ban ?” 

“Hanaco, she called herself. The others 
spoke of her as Ohanasan.” 

Joe looked astonished, but presently laugh- 
ing, said, 

“O, yes, that is her name, but there are two 
Hanacos up there ; the tall one and a little 
one. I call one Okii Hanner and the other 
Chiisai. It was the little one you must have 
had.” 

“No,” said the doctor, “it was the tall one.” 

“O, come off, doctor; I tell you she was with 
us last night. What are you giving us ? ” 

“What time did she leave you?” said the 
doctor. 


120 


JOE SAXTON 


“Nearly midnight, wasn’t it, Tanny? ” 

Kosaku laughed, but did not answer. He 
was enjoying Joe’s bewilderment. 

“About eleven o’clock, I guess,” said the 
doctor. “She said she had been out to the 
fireworks with some friends, and, within ten 
minutes, my boy, after you left her at the 
Kirihan, she was tuning her samisen for me.” 

“Well, that beats the Dutch,” said Joe. 
“She never said a word about having another 
engagement. Did she mention my name ? ” 

“Yes; once, I think,” said the doctor. 

“What did she say? ” Joe asked, eagerly. 

“She tapped me on the arm, and called me 
“ josan ,” by mistake, I think. The fact is, 
Saxton, you were not out of sight when my 
messenger arrived with the order for the 
supper and the geisha; and they came right 
over. Now don’t think hard of the girl ; for I 
think she likes you. She has got lots of sense, 
and is a good, honest woman.” 

“Doctor,” said Joe, blushing, “you are my 
friend , and I won’t kill you this time. She is a 
good girl and I know it. And she is just the 
one to help us in this business.” 

“I thought so,” said the doctor. 

“But,” said Joe, “you have not told us the 
name of your girl yet.” 


IN JAPAN. 


1 2 1 


“The Young- Bamboo.” 

“Why! that is the girl Hanner spoke of to 
me the other night.” Joe checked himself, but 
presently added, 

“They are friends, it would seem. What is 
she like ? ” 

Carl described her carefully, and then told 
Joe how he had posted her in regard to meet- 
ing any one who came to her in his name ; and 
that she could trust him with a message, or 
anything else ; as he had foreseen that it would 
endanger the success of his plan to be too near 
at hand himself at the time she was to be taken 
away. He well knew that the fact of his two 
calls upon her would point to him as her res- 
cuer, as soon as she was missed ; and for this 
they must be fully prepared. 

The conversation between the three men 
was a long one, several of the details needing 
to be very carefully gone over. 

One modification of the doctor’s plan Joe 
insisted upon, while eating lunch, saying, 

“I tell you, doctor, that railroad business 
won’t do, if I have to handle it. I am not used 
to that sort of thing. They could stop us by a 
telegram before we got half way to the first 
turn-off. No ! — a sampan and a mule are good 
enough for me ” 


122 


JOE SAXTON 


“Tanny can go ahead by rail as' far as pos- 
sible, alone, at his leisure, and make everything 
all right up there, and come back, maybe. I’ll 
take more time with the girl, and get there , yo2i 
bet , or break a trace. But I don’t want any 
steamboat or railroad — to manage on the way 
— in mine.” 

“All right,” said the doctor, “just as you 
think best. Mr. Kosaku says he will do his 
part when the time comes, and he can call 
upon me to liquidate.” 

“Yes,” said Kosaku, with a twinkle in his 
eye. 


XXII. 



| HERE was an another entertainment 
at the Yoshiwara that night. But 
somehow it did not pass off as agree- 
ably as that of the night before. The people 
present and the general situations were pretty 
much the same, the only change in the per- 
sonnel being that Joe Saxton took the place of 
the “ French Doctor.” 

Joe, it would seem, made things decidedly 
more lively, but, according to all accounts, not 
nearly so pleasant as had the other foreigner. 



IN JAPAN. 


123 


Perhaps the only reliable account of the 
details of the affair which ever came out was 
that of the two little girls present ; and, as it 
may fairly be presumed that their testimony, — 
agreeing as it did in all essentials, — was not 
doctored, it may here be given. 

Hanaco had little to say about the affair 
when questioned by the keeper and the police. 
She asked them to excuse her, as it would hurt 
her business to disparage her employer. She, 
however, admitted that the little girls told the 
truth; and that she was sorry for them at the 
time, but could not help it. 

The little girls said that the American took 
out of his pocket a flask of some kind of sake, 
and drank from it several times before supper. 
It was not common sake, they knew ; because, 
— in the wrestler’s dance, — which they were 
trying to teach him, he put his arm around 
them both, and — and — tried to kiss them. 
And they knew from the smell that it was not 
common sake. They further said that he made 
a great deal of noise, and at one time jumped 
up so high that his head bumped against the 
ceiling; that Ohana-san stopped playing and 
told him that if he did not let them alone, and 
do right, she would have to take them away; 
that the Young Bamboo asked him to send 


124 


JOE SAXTON 


them all away, and go to bed ; that the Ameri- 
can told her to mind her own business, that he 
would send them away when he got ready; 
that he threw a cushion at Bamboo; that 
Bamboo went away; and a little later, and 
while they were dancing — it might have been a 
half an hour — the bell struck twelve, and they 
all came away, leaving the American alone in 
the room with the servants, who came to make 
down his bed. 

The testimony of the landlord at the tea- 
house, where Joe registered and had to pay 
the bill for the supper, seemed to corroborate 
that of the little girls indirectly; and as it, too, 
was undoubtedly honest, may be given in part. 

The landlord’s statement was also given with 
some reluctance, for a reason similar to that 
given by the leader of the geisha, that it would 
hurt his business to say anything unkind about 
any of his guests; still he admitted that the 
American came back to the house some time 
after twelve o’clock, called for his bill and 
wanted a jinrikisha to take him away. 

“No, — he was not drunk,” said the landlord, 
“he was sure of that, though he might have 
been drinking a little .” “He did not order 
any sake with the supper,” he said. “He got 


IN JAPAN. 


125 


into the ’rikisha all by himself.” The ’rikisha- 
man said, however, that the big foreigner came 
very near upsetting it backwards before he had 
a good hold of the handles. 

Being closely questioned by the police, the 
landlord reluctantly admitted that the Ameri- 
can had told him that he had been left in the 
lurch by the girl; that he didn’t care much 
about her anyway ; but gave him a dollar extra 
to say nothing about his having gone away so 
soon, as he did not want to be laughed at by 
his friends, if they got hold of it. 

The testimony of the guard at the gate of 
the district was perhaps unimportant. Still it 
xnight be mentioned to complete the case. He 
came on duty at midnight, he said, and was 
very sure that Bamboo did not pass out during 
his tour, which ended at eight o’clock in the 
morning. A few other people went and came, 
he said ; several geisha, all of whom he knew ; 
Ohana-san was among them. He knew her 
well. And that the tall American, whom he 
had seen several times before, went out in a 
jinrikisha about a half or three-quarters of an 
hour after he (the guard) came on duty at mid- 
night. He was quite sure the “ French Doc- 
tor” — whom he had also seen several times — 
was not in the Yoshiwara that night. At least 


126 


JOE SAXTON 


he had not seen him ; and there were not many 
people, the festival being over. 

The testimony of the guard relieved at mid- 
night would doubtless have been very much the 
same — even to seeing Ohana-san pass out. 
He, too, knew her well, and saw her pass in, 
soon after the American, at about nine o’clock, 
followed by the man carrying her instruments 
in their cases, the same as when they went out 
just before he was relieved from duty for the 
night. 

This last man might have mixed things a 
little had the case ever come to trial and both 
guards been brought up as witnesses. 

Had anything ever been discovered on which 
to base a charge, it might have gone hard with 
one of these poor fellows, — both doubtless as 
honest and faithful officials as ever wore a 
uniform, — there being no excuse, perhaps, for 
mistaking Bamboo for a geisha, as their regular 
uniforms were entirely different. 

The morning following Saxton’s party in the 
Yoshiwara, Carl Steinberg sat in an early train 
out of Tokyo towards Yokohama. He was 
en route to Kobe to catch a steamer which 
would take him through the Inland Sea to 
Nagasaki, where he expected to join his ship. 

At the first stop, outside of Tokyo, where 


IN JAPAN. 


127 


the trains from the north, after passing around 
the city, connect with those out of Shimbashi 
Station, he was joined in the first class com- 
partment, where he had been alone, by a 
Japanese from the other train. 

One not knowing better would have sup- 
posed that these two had never met before. 
Yet no sooner had the train pulled out, than 
they were in earnest conversation in the middle 
of the compartment; but they separated and 
looked out of opposite windows whenever the 
train slowed up. 

At Yokohama the Japanese got out and 
walked away. Carl continued his journey. 

Those on this train, accustomed to the usual 
promptitude of Japanese railroad service, doubt- 
less wondered that morning why the train was 
delayed eight minutes in pulling out again. 
Just as it did so, another Japanese, with a small 
bundle and a fan in his hands, entered the com- 
partment with Carl and took a seat. The man 
scarcely looked at his fellow passenger, and at 
the first stop got out. Carl thought nothing of 
it at the time, nor until he saw the same man 
get out of a second class car at a station further 
down the road, and— just as the train started 
again — saw him get into a different car still, 


128 


JOE SAXTON 


did Carl know that he was being shadowed, 
and that they were looking for the girl. 

Carl smiled as he said to himself, “they are 
on the wrong track. I wonder how far they 
will follow it. That Yankee showman, soldier, 
cowboy, must have been chased by the authori- 
ties himself at some time in his career. I am 
glad I gave him his way in this matter.” 

At last, about thirty miles down the road, at 
one of the stops, Carl saw his shadow remain 
standing on the platform, with his fan and 
bundle in his hands, as the train pulled out. 

Carl continued his journey without farther 
special incident, made connection with the 
steamer at Kobe all right, reached his ship 
just in time, reported on board, and went to 
sea. 


XXIII. 

HE city of Tokyo is divided into two 
sections by the Sumida river, which 
there runs nearly north and south, 
and, with its numerous by-ways or canals, 
makes of the neighboring parts of the city, in 
places, a veritable Venice; with this difference, 
that usually the canals are in the middle or on 



IN JAPAN. 


129 


one side of the streets, which are sometimes wide. 
The tide rises and falls in these canals, as well 
as in the river, for many miles above the city. 

The river, in its course through the city, is 
spanned by numerous large bridges, and the 
canals by almost innumerable smaller ones 
where the streets cross. 

There are very few horses in Tokyo, and 
nearly all of the traffic is effected by man- 
power. The canals, with their thousands of 
boats, are very important public highways. 

The boats are of all sizes, from large 
“bateaux" to small “skiffs." They are, how- 
ever, nearly all of the sampan pattern, and are 
propelled by long “sculls” at the stern or the 
sides. The sculls are worked from side to 
side without the blades being lifted from the 
water, the men standing sidewise to the direc- 
tion of the boat, bending backward and forward 
with a graceful motion. 

Sampans are used in Tokyo as gondolas are 
in Venice ; and as the great Japanese city is with- 
out horses or carriages, and has over a million 
of pleasure-loving inhabitants, the number of 
boats required may be imagined. 

The pleasure sampans usually have a low 
cabin amidship, the roof of which is only high 
enough to clear the head of an ordinary sized 


130 


JOE SAXTON 


person, sitting on the matting, with which the 
floor is covered inside. 

On a hot summer moonlight night the river 
and canals are alive with these craft; and the 
sound of the samisen, gekkin and flute heard 
everywhere, filling the balmy air with the pecu- 
liar music of the Orient. 

On the night of the escape of the Young 
Bamboo from the Yoshiwara, a pleasure 
sampan, with its low cabin and two nearly 
naked boatmen, was lying close to and under 
the shadow of a wall, in a by-way of the river, 
between a bridge and some steps, made at the 
time the wall was built by setting the layers 
of stones back, one by one, from the bottom 
upward. 

Lying flat on his stomach in the cabin of this 
boat was Joe Saxton. His feet protruded out 
of the cabin towards the bow, and his neck was 
nearly broken from holding his head up to 
watch the bridge a short distance astern. He 
was very tired, and not a little anxious as to the 
outcome of the whole affair. He had no means 
of knowing whether the girl had got out or not. 
He had given her the signal to go, by throwing 
a cushion at her, and up to that time every- 
thing had worked well; but what might have 
happened after that he could only conjecture. 


IN JAPAN. 


131 

He had “made time” crossing the city, and 
got in ahead at the rendezvous, as he had 
hoped to do, though he started last ; and now 
he was waiting. It was getting late, and many 
of the sampans on the river were coming in, 
some of them passing within arm’s length of 
where he was lying. People crossed the 
bridge in the moonlight, going, some one way 
and some the other, singly and in parties; and, 
as the figures showed up through and over the 
rail, his heart stopped beating until he had 
made them out. 

As Joe’s neck was very tired from holding 
up his head, he let it drop for a moment, his 
forehead resting upon his folded arms beneath. 
Thus he was lying when he heard the sound of 
low voices above him, and, looking up, saw a 
man with a bundle in one hand, the other hold- 
ing something on his shoulder. He caught 
only a glimpse of two geisha as they drew back 
from the top of the wall. 

The boat was quickly pushed along to the 
steps, and in a moment more one of the women 
was aboard and seated in the cabin. The 
other and the man were engaged in animated 
conversation at the top of the steps. Joe 
heard the words. 

“Don’t you see it is all right?” 


1 3 2 


JOE SAXTON 


The woman in the boat called up to the one 
on shore, in a low voice, 

“Come; it is all safe. See, I am here!” and 
added to Joe, who was completely bewildered, 
“she is afraid of the water.” 

Saxton was astonished. This was something 
he had not counted upon. And there stood 
those two idiots, he thought, discussing a thing 
like that , with people passing every few min- 
utes. In an instant more Joe was “all him- 
self;” and, crawling out of the cabin, on his 
hands and knees, he was up the steps. As he 
gained the top he said to the man, 

“Take the things aboard.” Then turning to 
the woman he asked, 

“What is the matter?” 

“I am so afraid,” was the reply. 

“Afraid of what? ” Joe demanded. 

“The water. See how black it looks down 
there. It is like a grave.” 

“Can’t you trust me ?” asked Joe. 

“Yes,” she answered, “he told me to do 
that, but said nothing about the water. O ! 
please let me go back. Let me go back.” 

Joe gave one glance around, and the next 
moment nearly upset the boat by stepping too 
near the side, unmindful of the hundred pounds 


IN JAPAN. 


*33 


or more, added to his own weight, he was car- 
rying as he sprang aboard. 

As Joe crawled under the roof on his knees 
and one hand, with Bamboo under the other 
arm, he said something, which, had it been put 
in a language understood by her, would have 
amounted to a strong intimation that she was a 
very unwise person, who possibly had not been 
blessed by her ancestors. Joe spoke, however, 
in American, only using about two words, and 
she never suspected that he was swearing. 

By the time the sampan had been pushed off 
and begun to glide along the canal toward the 
river, with a motion like the walk of an ele- 
phant, Bamboo nestling close to his side, Joe 
had regained his composure, and, using a pet 
phrase in Japanese, said something, which if 
put into free English would have been, 

“Hanner, tune up" 

A moonlight night in a pleasure boat in the 
summer, on the Sumida-gawa, in Tokyo, with 
music and pretty girls, is an experience well 
worth coming to Japan, from almost any part 
of the world, to enjoy. But to be in it under 
such circumstances as those with which this 
chapter deals is given to but few, and is to be 
remembered forever. 


*34 


JOE SAXTON 


As the sampan glided along up the river, the 
tide serving just right, after getting out of the 
thick of the craft in the populous part of the 
city, Joe’s fatigue began to tell upon him and 
he slept, as did the Young Bamboo. 

During the remainder of the night there was 
another hand at the helm, literally, at times ; as 
the man who came with the girls to the canal, 
carrying the instruments and bundle, frequently 
relieved one or the other of the boatmen at his 
oar, if such it might be called. 

To one not in the secret, and acquainted with 
the language, it might have seemed a little 
queer that these three Japanese did not use 
the coolie dialect of the river boatmen, but 
chatted pleasantly like friends in the language 
of educated gentlemen. 

But whoever they might have been they were 
athletic young fellows and skilful boatmen. 
They might have come from the Arsenal or 
possibly from the Naval College, for all any 
one may know. 

Had the trains coming into Tokyo, from the 
north, the morning after the escape, been as 
closely watched as were those going out , to dis- 
cover any one supposed to have had knowledge 
of the affair, there might have been seen a 


IN JAPAN. 


135 


couple who were perhaps more or less inter- 
ested; but nobody noticed them in the crowd. 

The woman was dressed as an ordinary 
“ daughter,” in traveling costume, and she car- 
ried a bundle. The man also had a bundle, 
and what might have been a samisen in its 
case. These he put into a jinrikisha with the 
woman, who rode away, while he returned at 
once to the train. 

How or when those two nearly naked boat- 
men got back to their “places of business” 
does not much matter. They have doubtless 
had many a good laugh since, over their night 
on the water in company with the two geisha, 
“Tanny” and the “Saint.” 

Just after daylight the sampan made a land- 
ing at a secluded place above the city, and the 
boatmen bade good-bye to Joe and the Bam- 
boo. Somehow they were then dressed and 
looked just like any other Japanese; as did 
also the geisha and her attendant, who also 
went away walking along an embankment. 

Joe had been on the water in a sampan sev- 
eral times before, and had learned the knack of 
this peculiar sculling. Accordingly he pushed 
off and worked the boat along some distance 
further up the stream. Then, the tide setting 
against him, he crossed over and made fast 


i.i6 


JOE SAXTON 


to the bank on the opposite side. Here he 
got out, and walking along the edge of the 
water a little way, he disappeared into a thicket 
of bamboo. 

When he came out, and returned to the boat, 
with a green rod in his hand, the other Bamboo 
was gone and he saw her walking away slowly, 
as if looking for something in the opposite 
direction from that which he had taken. 

Joe watched her for a moment and then 
turning his back went to fishing, although there 
was no hook on the string at the end of the 
rod — only a little pebble tied there for a sinker. 
Glancing over his shoulder, a little later, he 
saw the girl run down the bank to the water’s 
edge, and come slowly towards the boat. 

As she sprang aboard with the agility of a 
cat, Joe said to her 

‘'Well! my little gal, the smartest detective 
in the world would not size you up for a woman 
now;”- and added, “How you handle yourself! 
just like a boy ! ” 

This last remark was not strictly correct; 
there being a grace about the movements of 
these country girls which no boy ever dis- 
plays. 

The girl now had a white cloth or handker- 
chief bound tightly over her head, tied under 


IN JAPAN. 


137 


the chin and concealing her hair entirely; over 
this a conical shaped straw hat, — also tied 
under the chin; — and she wore a short, faded 
blue kimono or blouse, just long enough to sit 
upon, and which was secured by a piece of 
cloth around the waist. Faded blue trousers, 
cut and sewed to fit, in fact tights, they might 
be called, covered her legs; while on her feet 
were straw sandals, bound at the heel and 
around the ankle by strings. 

The girl took off her hat and “night-cap,” as 
Joe called it, and they both washed their faces 
in the stream, over the side of the boat. 

“Now let’s have some breakfast,” said Joe. 

It is well, perhaps, that Shakespeare wrote 
in English, for Joe added, 

“I am as hungry as the sea, and can digest 
as much.” As it was, the girl “understood 
not,” but she laughed at Joe’s English “kotoba” 
and tragic manner. 

A bundle was now produced, which, after 
the cloth was taken off, proved to be a little 
basket filled with eatables. 

Joe grabbed a couple of sandwiches, and 
handed one to the girl. She took it, and care- 
fully separating the two pieces of bread, shook 
the one to which the slice of ham adhered over 


138 JOE SAXTON 

the side of the boat. As the meat dropped 
into the water Joe exclaimed: 

“What did you do that for?” 

The girl looked up in surprise. 

“Don’t do that again,” added Joe sternly; 
“give it to me next time.” 

“Yes,” said the girl, “I do not like it.” 

Now Joe had once been several days without 
food; and never since that time could he bear 
to see any kind of food wasted, especially when 
he was out of doors. He would pick up a 
small piece of meat, which had been accident- 
ally dropped, clean off the dirt and eat it, before 
taking another mouthful from his heaping plate, 
or the full camp-kettle at his side, thus showing 
one of the notions that an old campaigner 
sometimes acquires. 

Further down in the basket they found some 
boiled chicken, which had been cut into pieces. 
The girl took out one of these and handed it to 
Joe. He took hold of it by the protruding 
bone, looked at it on one side, turned it over 
and examined it critically on the other, then in 
a tone of disgust, uttered the single word, 
“ neko ,” (cat,) making a motion as if to throw it 
overboard. The girl reached for it, and Joe, 
pretending reluctance, surrendered the morsel. 


IN JAPAN. 


139 


A package done up in white paper proved to 
be sponge-cake, which they call “ castila " in 
Japan, having first got it from the Spaniards, as 
they did bread from the French, which they call 
“pan." 

Joe thought the girl made most of her break- 
fast out of that cake. The Japanese, especially 
the women, are very fond of sweets. In fact, 
they cannot understand how any sane person 
can voluntarily taste of anything sour. They 
say salt is sweet; and all their sauces are 
sweet. In short, the word sweet is used for, 
almost everything that is good and wholesome. 

They washed down the breakfast with water 
from the river, Joe greatly missing his coffee, as 
doubtless did the girl her tea; but they man- 
aged to “make out a meal.” 


XXIV. 


URING this day on the river, Joe 
shifted the position of the boat sev- 
eral times; making a pretense of fish- 
ing whenever any one approached. Several 
boats passed down in the forenoon, and up in 
the afternoon, according as the tide served. 



140 


JOE SAXTON 


About noon — the day was “a scorcher,” — 
they found a place where some willow trees 
overhung the water a little, which afforded 
some shade, so that they could sit outside the 
cabin and be fairly comfortable. Near this 
place, the girl found a little spring of water 
coming out of the bank, which, though nothing 
but seepage from a rice-field above, was cooler 
than that of the river, and Joe thought safer, 
perhaps, to drink, in a cholera country. 

This fishing without a hook, however, was 
about the most stupid occupation a man could 
possibly engage in, Joe thought. It was even 
more foolish, if that were possible, than watch- 
ing another person fish ; so he tried all sorts of 
ways to devise a substitute that might catch 
something. The girl could give him no pin to 
make a hook of, and seemed surprised that he 
should expect her to have such a thing. At 
last, he thought of the one at the back of his 
neck, fastening his collar to the shirt. He 
soon had it in shape and at the end of the 
string on the rod, and with a bit of gristle from 
a chicken-bone for bait, he was fishing in 
earnest, and with hope, which was something. 

At last he did manage to get one poor little 
“shiner” into the boat. He pulled several out 
of the water. This one, when it wriggled itself 


IN JAPAN. 


I 4 I 

off the hook, happened to drop into the boat. 
Joe picked it up, looked at it, trying to make 
out whether or not it was of a kind he had ever 
seen before, and was about to throw it back 
into the water, when the girl, who had watched 
his efforts with great interest, asked for it. 
Joe handed it over, and proceeded to adjust a 
fresh bait. 

The girl took the fish, and crawling through 
the cabin, went to the other end of the boat. 
Joe saw her doing something with it for a little 
time there, and then she came back to see what 
further luck he was having. Joe was sure she 
had not thrown the fish overboard; and yet it 
was certainly gone. What she did with it he 
could only guess. Raw fish is sweet to the 
Japanese. 

Joe slept a good part of the afternoon, lying 
on the matting in the cabin, while the girl kept 
watch and fished. Whether she caught any- 
thing he never knew; certain it was that she 
had nothing to show for it when he awoke. 

During the day Joe had climbed up the bank 
several times to look around the country, not 
daring to show himself very much, however, 
for fear of attracting attention. He was also 
afraid to move very far from where their friends 
had left them, or without knowing more about 


142 


JOE SAXTON 


what might be ahead. Nevertheless, towards 
evening, when the river was partly shaded by 
the trees on the bank, he poled the boat along 
for some distance on the shady side. He was 
looking for a good place to “tie up” for the 
night, when he caught sight of a man coming 
along on the opposite side of the river, leading 
a horse. 

Joe at once ran the boat into the bank near- 
by, got out his tackle, and sat down to fish ; all 
the time watching the man on the other side of 
the river, which at that point was too wide for 
him to recognize persons at such a distance, 
unless there might be something peculiar about 
them, which did not seem to be the case with 
this fellow. 

When the man with the horse arrived oppo- 
site to where Joe was fishing, he stopped, looked 
across a moment, then turned the horse’s head 
in the opposite direction, and stood behind it. 

Joe at once put up his tackle and moved the 
boat across the river. It was the signal for 
which he was waiting. 

When Joe sprang out of the boat and climbed 
up the bank, he and the man with the horse 
greeted each other as if well acquainted; and 
though one was a Japanese, a rapid conversa- 
tion in English at once took place. The girl 


IN JAPAN. 


*43 

put in her time examining and fondling the 
horse, which proved to be a pack-pony, with 
saddle and cargo on her back. 

After inspecting the pack, the girl tried to 
find out whether the pony was giving milk, and 
then going to its head, she patted its nose, at 
the same time uttering little sounds of endear- 
ment mingled with pet names. She was “get- 
ting acquainted” with one she regarded as at 
least a relative of dear old friends, and seemed 
not the least afraid of it in any way. 

Joe, after talking with his friend, and examin- 
ing a sketch or map of the country, which 
appeared to require a good deal of explanation, 
put the paper in his pocket, and turning to the 
pony, inspected in his turn the pack, as well as 
the fastenings. 

On it he found his portmanteau with several 
other packages and bundles, and on the top of 
all, in a very conspicuous position, a photo- 
graphic camera tripod. This was evidently a 
part of the “make up” for disguise; as Joe’s 
friend very well knew that either of the two 
little cameras he sometimes carried, and which 
were in his portmanteau, could be concealed 
about his person and needed no tripod. 

One of the packages was taken off, and out ’ 
of it came an East India summer helmet wound 


*44 


JOE SAXTON 


about with a blue veil, a pair of colored specta- 
cles and a field-glass, besides several other 
requisites for making up the regulation English 
tourist. 

Several packages were exchanged between 
the pony and the boat, and when all was ready 
for the start, the friends separated. The boat 
dropped down the river, bearing the Japanese, 
while the tourist walked along the embank- 
ment, followed by the girl leading the pony. 

They went along the river for some distance, 
when, coming to another embankment at right 
angles to the one they were on, and leading 
across the valley towards the hills, they turned 
off, just as the sun was going down. 

As they traveled along the narrow road, the 
twilight slowly fading, people came out of the 
fields on each side and went in the same direc- 
tion. One of these parties, consisting of a man 
and two or three women, one of whom was car- 
rying a baby on her back, came up behind and 
got into conversation with the girl leading the 
pony. As this made the tourist a little uneasy, 
he stopped, and managing with the pony and 
his own person to fill the pathway, so that it was 
not easy for those in the rear to get by, he 
examined the pack ; tightened up some of the 
lashings, at the same time scolding the girl, and 


IN JAPAN. 


T 45 


threatening that the next time he took a trip of 
this kind he would get a boy to manage the 
horse, who would understand the business. 

Having said all he wished the people to hear, 
he managed to let them pass by ; and then ex- 
plaining to the girl what he meant, and the 
danger of talking too much to strangers on the 
road, they walked on. 

Just as darkness settled down they came to 
the foot of the hills, and turning to the left they 
skirted along at the base through what to the 
tourist seemed an interminable village. 

They passed several tea or “ rest-houses,” 
where they could doubtless have stopped for 
the night; in fact they were solicited to do so at 
one or two places. But our tourist had no such 
intention, at least until he should have put as 
many more miles as possible between them- 
selves and the city, in the cool of the night. 

The moon did not rise until nearly eleven 
o’clock that night, and then was only little 
more than half a moon, which did not give 
much light. The tourist grew a little uneasy 
after a while in regard to the distance he had 
traveled, or where he was to turn off up into 
the hills. He could not examine his map with 
any satisfaction by burning matches, and he was 
afraid to stop at any of the houses for the 


146 


JOE SAXTON 


night, or to inquire, for fear he might have to 
show his passport, which he had all right in his 
pocket, although the nationality he was repre- 
senting might not have suited exactly. 

In passing a bamboo brake, or thicket, on the 
side of the road next to the hills, he took in its 
extent as they walked along, and coming to the 
end, left the road ; then skirting around on the 
upper side amongst some small pine and kiri 
trees, they went into camp for the night. 

It need hardly be stated that the camp was a 
bivouac under the sky, and by no means Joe 
Saxton’s first experience of the kind; although 
he thinks he will never hear the rasp of a cer- 
tain kind of locust again without seeing stars 
through pine boughs. And as for mosquitoes, 
— though he did not notice them much at the 
time, — his face was a sight to behold next 
morning; and so was that of his poor com- 
panion. 


IN JAPAN. 


I 47 


XXV 


ME days after the events recounted 
in the last chapter, we find Joe Saxton 
and his companion on the mountain 
trail between Nikko and Lake Chuzenji. It 
was raining ; and the mud in places, half knee- 
deep to the pony, as it splashed along under its 
pack, led by the girl. 

The tourist was picking his way along the 
edge of the trail, with trousers rolled up, for a 
better reason than that it might be raining at 
home in London, and was carrying an umbrella 
over his head. 

Several slight changes in the general make- 
up of the “outfit” might have been noticed by 
any one who saw it start from the river. 

The tripod on the pack at that time was no 
longer to be seen ; having been left behind, the 
second day, as a useless encumbrance, and not 
exactly suited to the make-up of an English 
tourist. 

The faded blue blouse and trousers worn by 
the girl, though 4 ‘ second-hand” at the start, 
were perhaps a little too clean at that time, a 
defect no longer noticeable. 




148 


JOE SAXTON 


Joe’s complexion was now almost as brown 
as that of the girl, except in spots, where the 
tan had peeled off. He needed a shave dread- 
fully; though his beard was naturally light and 
he always wore a mustache. 

A glance at the pack on the pony showed 
other changes. It was now higher on the 
animal, bound by a single rope and secured by 
the “diamond hitch.” 

They had passed the midway rest-house, and 
were within a couple of miles of their destina- 
tion for the day. The trail was getting steeper 
and steeper, and the rain came down harder 
and harder as they climbed up the mountain. 

In places where the mud was not above the 
horse’s fetlocks the clay was like oiled glass. 
The stream at the bottom of the gulch on their 
left had changed from the beautiful green color 
which it had when they started from Nikko — 
due to the reflection from the mountain sides, 
and the clear sky above — and was now grown a 
turbulant mountain torrent, and still rapidly 
rising. It was in fact, Joe thought, about as 
mean mountain trailing as he had ever had a 
hand or foot in. 

As they were splashing along, at a particu- 
larly slippery place in the trail, Joe heard a 
little cry from the girl behind him, and looked 


IN JAPAN. 


M9 


around just in time to see her struggling out 
of the mud from under the horse’s fore-feet. 
Before he could get to her, however, she was 
up, standing and hopping up and down on one 
foot, holding the other in her hands. 

She was crying, the tears mingling with the 
raindrops that had come through her straw hat 
down on her face. 

Joe put one arm around her and inspected 
the foot as she held it up. There was an ugly 
cut of the skin on the top, the blood mingling 
with the mud on the foot. The sandal had 
been torn off. He could not tell whether any 
of the little bones had been broken or not. If 
it had only been a horse’s foot he would have 
known all about it, and just what to do; but 
this poor little “burro,” as he had nicknamed 
her, was a different kind of an animal; and any 
one looking under the sheltering visor of his 
helmet might have wondered how the rain got 
on his face beneath the eyes and nowhere else. 

He carried her to some sheltering rocks at 
the side of the trail, and set her down. Then 
cleaning off the mud as best he could, he exam- 
ined the foot, and carefully smoothing back the 
torn skin, took out his handkerchief and bound 
it up. 


JOE SAXTON 


I S° 

“O! for a little tobacco juice,” he thought; 
which, for once, and that when he needed it 
most, he did not have. 

What next to do had to be thought out. The 
rain poured down, and the pony with its pack, 
covered by a large sheet of yellow oiled paper, 
stood in the mud nibbling the bushes on the 
upper side of the trail. 

Looking across the ravine, Joe saw on the 
side of the mountain, a little way up from the 
river, a couple of huts, evidently occupied by 
charcoal burners; and near, spanning the river, 
a rustic foot-bridge, supported at several points 
on rocks in the stream. A happy thought 
struck him. He would take the girl over there 
and leave her, where she would be among her 
kind; while he went on with the pony and 
baggage and brought back assistance, perhaps 
also a surgeon. He knew they were building 
a large hotel up at the lake, where several of 
the foreign legations already had summer resi- 
dences, the American legation, however, not 
being among them. 

Somehow, though, this plan did not seem to 
Joe entirely satisfactory. It might be all right, 
he thought; but, then again it might not be. 
The girl once out of his sight, what might not 


IN JAPAN. 


151 

happen as soon as his back was turned? No; 
it would not do. 

He decided finally to take the baggage over 
to one of the huts, leave it there, put the girl 
on the pony and go on to the lake. 

He accordingly took off the pack, consisting 
of his portmanteau and the girl’s bundle, and 
placed them beside her under the shelter of the 
bank. The blankets he folded and put on the 
pack-saddle, which, it may be mentioned, was 
of the ordinary “saw-buck” pattern used in 
almost every country. The large sheet of 
oiled paper he threw over his own shoulders, 
fastening it at the throat like a military cloak, 
to shed the rain while he worked. 

Having, as he thought, made a pretty good 
seat for the girl, he got up to try it. Just at 
that moment there came around a turn in the 
trail, a short distance above, — where it doubled 
back on itself coming down the mountain side, 
— a jinrikisha, not drawn, but being held back, 
by the man in the shafts. Under the cover, 
above the buttoned apron, Joe saw the bearded 
face of a man whom he took to be an Ameri- 
can; and getting off the pony, he stood in front 
and stopped the way, looking hard at the occu- 
pant of the vehicle. All at once Joe recog- 
nized him, and exclaimed : 


152 


JOE SAXTON 


“Hello! Greig, how are you?” 

The occupant of the jinrikisha had been 
leaning forward as far as the apron would per- 
mit, and gazing at Joe. At this familiar greet- 
ing, however, he drew back into his shell, as it 
were, saying: 

“I beg your pardon, — but you seem to have 
the advantage.” 

“The devil you say,” said Joe. “Don’t 
know me?” 

Again the head came to the front, and in a 
tone of astonishment said : 

“ Good Lord! Is that you — ” 

“No,” was the reply before the question 
could be finished. “The boys used to call me 
‘ Saint ,’ but I haven’t come into my kingdom as 
yet.” 

Greig laughed as he unbuttoned the top of 
the apron to get a better look at the situation, 
and Joe went on : 

“But who did you take me for anyhow?” 

“Well, I don’t know exactly,” said Greig. 
“ Wellington crossing the Alps , may be. But,” 
he added, as he looked around, “what are you 
doing here? What’s up?” 

“O! I am in a scrape, as usual,” said Joe, 
“and want some help.” 

“What is it, and what can I do?” 


IN JAPAN. 


153 


Joe rapidly explained what had happened, 
and what he had intended to do, and wound up 
by saying : 

“I tell you what you can do for me. Swap 
horses 

“What do you mean?” said Greig. 

“I mean,” said Joe, “for you to take this 
beast off my hands and let me have the jinriki 
to carry the girl and traps up to the lake. I 
will make it all right with the man, and maybe 
I can get a couple of these pilgrims to push 
going up. It isn’t much further, is it?” 

“No,” said Greig. “All right. But what 
shall I do with the horse when I get to Nikko?” 

“Anything you like,” said Joe. “Sell it; 
give it away; kill it, if you think best. I am 
done with it. Only don’t tell anybody where 
you got it.” 

“Why not? What difference would that 
make? ” 

“Well, — it might make some difference.” 

“You didn’t steal it, did you, Joe?” said 
Greig, smiling. 

“Perhaps so, or something else,” said Joe, 
adding, “I’ll tell you all about it, George, the 
next time we are on board ship together. And, 
by the way, going the direction you are at 
present, take my advice and keep away from 


J 54 


JOE SAXTON 


the Yoshiwara when you get to Tokyo, unless 
you have me with you.” 

George laughed — and intimated that possibly 
he might have been there already. ‘ 

The necessary arrangements were soon com- 
pleted, and just as Greig was about to mount 
the pony — the girl and baggage were already 
in the jinrikisha — Joe said: 

“There is another thing I want you to do.” 

“What is it? anything I can.” 

“Swap hats before you go; I am done with 
this, too. You will find the contraption very 
comfortable, and good for either sun or rain. I 
rather hate to part with it. But, — here, — give 
us that sombrero ;” and as Joe put it on his 
head with a slap, he said: 

“I am an American from this out.” 


XXVI. 

OUBTLESS several people at the rest- 
house below the point where Saxton 
and his friend swapped horses, 
thought, as the latter passed down, that he was 
the same foreigner who had gone by three 
hours before in the opposite direction. That 



IN JAPAN. 


155 

he had left the luggage and girl above, and was 
returning to Nikko on the pony for something 
forgotten; or, more sensibly, perhaps, had 
, given up the trip on account of the weather. 

Before starting with the jinrikisha Joe took 
another reef in his trousers and then gave the 
command to go ahead, at the same time push- 
ing behind the vehicle. He soon got into the 
way of giving the answering grunts or exclama- 
tions the coolies make when straining at their 
work; but their progress was slow. The 
mountain side near the top being almost per- 
pendicular, the trail is cut into the side, doubling 
back and forth on itself, making many turns; 
easy enough to come down in a jinrikisha or 
on foot; but a very different matter to climb up 
in slippery mud. 

When they reached the “divide,” where the 
road passes over to the lake — which, by the 
way, is not the top of the mountain — and where 
the road is level for a short distance before it 
begins to pitch in the opposite direction, and 
where there was very little mud, the coolie 
began to trot. This Joe put a stop to at once, 
and taking his place in front, laid out the pace 
in a good swinging walk. He was willing to 
push, where there was any necessity, but as for 


JOE SAXTON 


156 

running behind a baby carriage, — “not much,” 
he said. 

Arriving at the little village on the shore of 
the lake, at one of the three rest-houses, or 
Japanese hotels, — a stopping place for the 
better class of pilgrims, with which the place is 
filled in summer, — Joe found his friend waiting. 
It would seem he had arrived two days before 
and had been making inquiries. He was a 
little surprised to see Joe arrive in such 
weather, and with the girl in a jinrikisha, in- 
stead of leading the pony. He rather expected 
that they would remain below until the rain 
ceased, inasmuch as they had not arrived the 
evening before. 

Kosaku had secured the only two rooms the 
house afforded that were fitted for Europeans, 
these being on the upper floor. The rest of 
the house was filled with pilgrims, who spent 
most of the days asleep on the floor, finishing 
their pilgrimage to the top of the mountain in 
the night, after bathing in the lake. 

The two rooms referred to opened out upon 
a veranda overlooking the water, and had for 
furniture a table and chairs, two of which were 
like those used on board steamers; and it made 
a very comfortable place for them to take their 


IN JAPAN. 


157 


meals and rest, and at the same time to enjoy 
the beauties of the scenery. 

One of these rooms was given to the girl; 
the two men occupying the other at night. The 
meals were served on the veranda. 

Inquiry developed the fact that there was a 
surgeon stopping at one of the legation summer 
residences. Who this turned out to be, when 
in answer to the request of a Japanese gentle- 
man, he came to see the injured girl, would be 
readily guessed by any one hearing the excla- 
mations of mutual surprise when he and Saxton 
met on the veranda of that hotel on the shore 
of Lake Chuzenji. 

Later in the evening, after the girl’s foot had 
been examined and dressed, this old friend doc- 
tor and Saxton sat on the veranda smoking, 
when the former said : 

0 How is it you came up here? They told 
me at your house that you and your friend had 
“gone west.” They said you had gone to 
Kyoto and Osaka and would be away three 
weeks.” 

“Yes,” said Joe, “that was the understand- 
ing when we made our preparations; but we 
changed our plans at starting. Was it any- 
thing in particular you wanted to see me about 
when you went to our place?” 


JOE SAXTON 


158 

“Yes; I wanted to ask you to come up here 
with me. We had been in the mountains to- 
gether before, and I thought perhaps we could 
get some fishing on the lake.” 

“I could not have come with you,” said Joe; 
“I had other company.” 

“Why, of course Mr. Kosaku was included, 
if he could have come.” 

“He didn’t come with me,” said Joe. 

“Who. did, then?” 

“The girl,” said Joe, pointing into the room 
where the Young Bamboo was lying on the 
bed. 

“What do you mean?” said the doctor; and 
beginning to suspect something, as he thought, 
he went on: “I thought you came up from 
Nikko with a pony to carry your traps, and this 
girl to lead it; and that she got her foot tramped 
on down the trail a little way. Didn’t you say 
so ?” 

“Ye-ep,” said Joe. “You have got that all 
straight; but maybe, Doctor, you haven’t got 
it all.” 

“Well, what more is there to it? What 
have you been up to now? ” 

“Doctor,” said Joe, growing serious, “do 
you remember the time you first saw me?” 

“1 think I do,” was the reply. 


IN JAPAN. 


159 


“That morning I came up at sick-call, with 
some cock-and-bull story? I was a recruit then. 
Do you remember what you said to me ? ” 

“I don’t remember anything special.” 

“Well, /do,” said Joe. “You said, ‘Young 
man, I am bound to believe what you say, per- 
haps ; but remember this: we doctors have a 
saying, that ‘ the patient who lies to us deserves 
to die.’ Now, you may have forgotten all 
about it, but I never shall. I have told plenty 
of lies since then, but none to you. Why, 
Doctor, you are the only man living who ever 
got the real truth about that mule-packing 
scrape with O’Leary. Do you remember the 
time when you were the patient and I was the 
nurse, in the mountains in Washington, on 
Bear River?” 

“I think I do, Joe, and I shall always remem- 
ber your kindness on that occasion. But what 
is it you hinted at about this girl ? Anything I 
ought to know ? ” 

“Yes, Doctor; I want to tell you the whole 
story, and we may never have a better chance. 
It might make a yarn for you to write up over 
some new nom-de-plume . All you would have 
to do would be to change a few of the names 
around a little, and then stick to the truth.” 


i6o 


JOE SAXTON 


“Well, go ahead,” said the doctor. “ I am 
like a burro , mostly ears, you know ; but am 
able to carry a pretty good load for my size. 
But pack it close, and put on the diamond 
hitch .” 

When Joe had finished recounting the cir- 
cumstances with which the reader is already 
partly acquainted, his listener shook his head 
and said : 

“It won’t do, Joe. It won’t do.” 

“Why not? It’s the truth.” 

“I don’t doubt it fora moment. But remem- 
ber the girl’s words about the keepers, when 
they whipped her. ‘They would not believe, 
they would not believe.’ ” 

“Would not believe what? Several people 
know the circumstances, and they can all be 
verified.” 

“Well, there may be a few — physicians 
mostly — who might believe that about the Ger- 
man doctor’s two nights in the Yoshiwara. 
But, — come, now, — would you believe the rest 
of it if anybody told you? ” 

“What’s that? ” said Joe with warmth. 

“O ! — that about one fellow stealing and run- 
ning away with another fellow’s girl, out of 
friendship, you know, for his sake. Wouldn’t 
that be a pretty big dose to swallow ? ” 


IN JAPAN. 


161 


Joe laughed outright and said : 

“So, that is the worst, is it? Why, can’t you 
see? The fellow had a girl of his own , who 
was his partner in the business. Perhaps, 
though, I didn’t make that quite plain enough 
before ; but I tell you now, Doctor, my Hanner 
is all right, and she was in it.” 

“0!”said the doctor. “I didn’t think of 
that. But tell me more about this girl. What 
sort of a female is she anyhow? ” 

“ She is a little fool, and the biggest coward 
you ever saw; though,” added Joe, reflectively, 
“ I must admit that she is amiable, and patient, 
and she stands her sufferings better than I 
could.” 

“What is she afraid of? ” 

“The water. Didn’t I tell you she wanted 
to go back to another whipping, perhaps, and 
that she had to be carried on board the boat? ” 
“ But did you never notice, Joe, that every- 
body is afraid of something? ” 

“ I don’t know about that,” said Joe, with a 
wag of his head. 

“It is a fact, though, all the same, if my 
observation goes for anything. And, if you 
can only find out what it is, in any particular 
case, you have got the whip handle over the 


i 62 


JOE SAXTON 


person, and you can make yourself boss of the 
situation.” 

“ O ! well ; but think of a girl being afraid to 
go aboard of a sampan, on a moonlight night, 
in a canal, on a pleasure excursion. If that is 
not cowardice, I should like to know what you 
call it.” 

“She may have more reason than you think 
of, Joe. Don’t be rash in judgment, whatever 
you may be in action,” said the doctor, as he 
added, “but I must be going. I expect to find 
myself locked out as it is. I will come again 
before noon to-morrow. Keep her in bed, with 
the foot elevated and cool ; give her what she 
likes to eat — not what you like — and she will 
be all right in a few days. I will think about 
your story. Good night.” 

“Good night,” said Joe. 


XXVII. 



HEN the doctor made his visit the next 
day, the girl’s cot was carried out on 
the veranda, into a good light, and the 
foot thoroughly examined, which had not been 
practicable before. 




IN JAPAN. 


1 63 

Having satisfied himself, the doctor said : 

“ Do you know, Saxton, I have thought a 
good deal about that theory of yours regard- 
ing the destruction of microbes, and have come 
to the conclusion there may be something in it/’ 

“How so?” said Joe. 

“Well ; — here we have a severe bruise with 
an ugly wound, which you dressed in the rain 
and mud, under the most adverse circumstances. 
And yet it shows every sign of healing by first 
intention, as if the best antiseptic had been 
used.” 

“What do you mean by my theory, Doctor? 
I don’t understand ; I did the best I could.” 

“ Of course you did. I refer to that sovereign 
remedy of yours, tobacco juice." 

“ O ! ” said Joe. “ But I didn’t have any.” 

“ How so ? Have you sworn off? ” 

“ 0 ! Lord , no! I wouldn’t do that. I 
wouldn’t swear off from stealing; for if I should, 
I wouldn’t be ‘happy until I had picked some- 
body’s pocket. But I got out of “climax” on 
this trip. 

“ Have you never noticed ” — Joe went on — 
“that a fellow always chews or smokes a good 
deal more on a campaign than at any other 
time? Why, I would have given a hundred 


164 


JOE SAXTON 


dollars for one good chew when this thing hap- 
pened. O ! you may laugh ; but wait until you 
have suffered a little yourself.’ ’ 

“ How long were you without it ? ” 

“Why! I haven’t got any yet; and if it 
hadn’t been for these legation people up here, 
I don’t believe I could have got even a package 
of this “Turkish” cigarette stuff to smoke. 
And, do you know, I think there must be 
opium in it. It makes me feel awful queer 
sometimes.” 

“Perhaps so, or something worse,” said the 
doctor. 

“Yes,” Joe continued, “the Japanese don’t 
seem to know what chewing tobacco is. You 
have to ask for tobacco for eating, and then 
they think you are crazy. Do you know I went 
out of my way and endangered the success 
of the whole enterprise in trying to get a little. 
I took in a big town where two railroads cross, 
and in no place that I could find had they ever 
heard of such a thing.” 

“It reminded me,” Joe went on, “of some 
fellows — seven or eight prospectors — who had 
got together in a cabin in the mountains to 
stand off a band of Indians. They were all 
right as long as they did not go too far away 
from the house. But unfortunately they got 


IN JAPAN. 


^5 

out of some of their supplies; and though it 
was as much as their lives were worth, they 
drew cuts to see who should get out through 
the prowling savages to the settlement and 
bring some, — not bacon nor hard-bread, but, — 
tobacco .” 

“A pretty good Sunday-school story, on the 
vice of using tobacco/' said the doctor, with a 
laugh, “if it were only true.” 

“ True” said Joe, with emphasis. “Why, I 
was there myself, and went back with the fel- 
low and a squad of cavalry that drove off the 
Indians.” 

“You can get plenty of this fuzzy fine cut 
stuff that they smoke in their little toy pipes, 
and that does not seem like tobacco at all ; but 
only in the settlements of the open ports can 
you get any ‘real stuff/ or a ‘drink/ either, for 
that matter. I mean, of course, except this 
sake, which you have got to go to a tea-house 
for, and then drink tea while you wait for it to 
be warmed up. Not a saloon in all Tokyo, that 
I could ever find. Think of people sitting 
around eating shaved ice out of a glass, with a 
funny little spoon, and believing they like it; 
though it may be flavored with something for 
all I know, — I never tried it.” 


1 66 


JOE SAXTON 


“I saw something in Tokyo the other day,” 
said the doctor, “that might have gladdened 
your heart a little.” 

“What was that?” Joe asked eagerly. 

“ I was walking along the street and heard a 
band playing; just as they do in our country 
when they open a new saloon, with free lunch. 
As I came up, however, you can imagine my 
disappointment, perhaps, when I discovered 
that the music was in front of a book-store and 
publishing house ; and they were only advertis- 
ing a new book.” 

‘O! Lord,” said Joe. “When will these 
people ever become civilized, at that rate ? It 
reminds me,” — he went on, — “of another true 
story.” 

“I was once in a boat with another fellow, on 
a river, pulling along up stream, and not mak- 
ing much headway, the tide being against us. 
It was getting dark and we were anxious to 
make for the night a certain landing, the dis- 
tance to which we did not know. As we pulled 
along, we came to a place where a couple of 
fellows were squatting by a fire on the bank, 
cooking supper. I sang out, asking how far it 
was to the landing. One of the men stood up 
and looked at us in the boat, while we stopped 
rowing to listen for his answer. Of course we 


IN JAPAN. 167 

began to drop back, seeing which the fellow 
replied, 

“You’ll get there quicker by dropping an- 
chor.” 

“Yes,” said the doctor, “that is the way with 
a good deal of progress in this world.” 

The friends talked and joked while dressing 
the injured foot, and until the cot, with the girl 
on it, was carried back into the room. Then 
stretching themselves in the wicker chairs on 
the balcony, overlooking the water, and filling 
their pipes, they went on “swapping lies,” as 
Joe always called it. 

“You say, Joe, that your friend has found 
this girl’s uncle up here. Where does he live, 
and what is his business? I confess I am a 
little interested in her future welfare,” said the 
doctor. 

“No. He has not found him as yet. He 
has only heard of him. He lives on the other 
side of the lake, and in the winter makes these 
wooden bowls and plates, so commonly used 
here ; and in the summer he runs a pack-train 
of horses between the Copper Mines and the 
Hot Springs. I am glad you like the girl, for 
I have grown to think a good deal of her myself 
on this trip, — she is so patient and faithful-like, 


JOE SAXTON 


1 68 

— and takes scolding so good, though she is 
such a fool and coward.” 

“Don’t say all of that at once, Joe. May be 
you don’t understand her case quite as well as 
I think I do. I have seen more of them, per- 
haps, and, do you know, I think I have detected 
a few little signs of a tendency to hysteria.” 

“What is that, anyhow, Doctor? I have 
often heard of it; what causes it? ” 

“Well, that is one of those things easier to 
name than to define. It usually comes from a 
derangement of the nervous system, and mani- 
fest’s itself — oddly enough sometimes — through 
the brain. I am not at all surprised at her 
symptoms, considering what she has been 
through. She reminds me of a dog I once had, 
that got its leg broke. He watched me while I 
dressed it, in the same way that she does, ready 
to bite or to lick my hand, as the occasion 
might prompt.” 

“She isn’t sick, is she ? ” Joe asked. 

“No! she has a good constitution and will 
be all right in a little while. All she needs is 
kind treatment with plenty of fresh air and un- 
broken sleep at night. The wound is healing 
splendidly, which shows that she is in good 
physical condition.” 


IN JAPAN. 


169 


“I hope she will be able to travel soon. We 
want to get her to her folks and finish the job 
as soon as possible. I want to get back to 
Tokyo; and Kosaku can’t be away very long.” 

‘‘How do you expect to get her there ?” 
asked the doctor. 

“Well, we intend to cross the lake in a 
sampan, and take the trail from the little temple 
in the woods, at the other end, up into the 
mountains, as soon as she is able to travel. 
Kosaku has gone over there to-day, to inquire 
of the priests about the road, etc.” 

That will be all right, provided you select a 
calm day for crossing the lake. Remember she 
is a little timid about the water, and if it should 
come on to blow while you are out, it might not 
be best for her. Make sure that the weather is 
settled before you start.” 

“ I will see to that,” said Joe. “ And if need 
be I will carry her into the boat again ; and we 
will get there, you bet , if I have to fight all the 
bears and dragons in these Japanese mount- 


ains. 


170 


JOE SAXTON 


XXVIII. 



HILE the girl was convalescing, Joe 
and his friends put in the time cruis- 
ing and fishing on the lake, — explor- 
ing the shore and country around, and taking 
pictures of waterfalls and other pretty views. 

One picture Joe was very proud of he got 
from the balcony of the hotel, catching Oyoshi-san 
— the waiting maid — unawares, looking down 
into the water. He got a better one- of her 
afterwards, perhaps; but somehow he always 
preferred to get his subjects in the camera 
when they were entirely unconscious of his pur- 
pose. 

This girl, Oyoshi-san , was a good one, as her 
name indicated, and she came to be very 
friendly with the Ygung Bamboo. It was 
pleasant to hear them chatting and laughing as 
together they '‘tidied up” the place, after Bam- 
boo’s foot got well enough for her to walk on it 
a little. 

Joe and his friends usually spent their eve- 
nings on the balcony, smoking and talking, Joe 
doing a good share of the latter, and using his 
American exaggerations. 



IN JAPAN. 


171 

They were thus occupied the evening before 
the start across the lake was to be made, to take 
the girl “home to her mountains,” when the 
doctor, speaking to Joe, asked, 

Were you not a little bit scared that time 
you told us about, when you emptied your 
“Winchester” into the grizzly coming up the 
hill at you ? when, as you say, you loaded him 
up so heavy with lead, like Mark Twain’s 
“Jumping Frog,” that he rolled back down 
the mountain?” 

“Not a bit,” said Joe. “I was on the up- 
hill side; and I was out for bear. That was 
just what I wanted.” 

“But, suppose it had proved that he was able 
to carry more lead than your magazine held ; 
and you had fired your last shot ? What would 
you have done then ? ” 

“Doctor,” said Joe, seriously, “I never fire 
my last shot. Nor burn my last match . Per- 
haps, though,” he added, reflectively, “if I 
had rammed the muzzle of the gun down his 
throat, I might have pulled the trigger. I don’t 
know.” 

“What do you mean by never burning your 
last match ? ” asked the listener. 

“A man mighty seldom freezes to death with 
a match in his pocket.” 


172 


JOE SAXTON 


“What difference does that make? ” said the 
doctor. 

“Why, you see, he will not lose hope, and 
that will keep him warm in the worst blizzard 
that ever blew.” And Joe continued, “You 
may rob a man of his money, his sweetheart, — 
yes, and honors, for that matter; — but when 
you take from him hope, he is apt to be danger- 
ous, to himself, if not to others.” 

“No!” he went on, “never fire your last 
shot. Keep one to hunt with. Nor burn your 
last match ; after that, it is like fishing without 
a hook.” 

“If you were never scared, Joe, tell us the 
worst hurt you ever got in any of your scrapes. 
I know all about that little wound you got in 
the fight with the Bannocks; and that burn on 
your leg, that cold night you came into camp 
with a canteen of — butter-milk, was it? — and 
lay down a little too close to the fire. Yes, and 
that time you rolled down the bank with a buck- 
ing bronco ‘half the time on top,’ like the Irish- 
man and the saw-log. Did you ever have 
anything worse ? ” 

Joe little suspected what his friend was try- 
ing to find out in thus awakening reminiscences 
in his mind, and answered, 


IN JAPAN. 


T 73 


“O! I have been in more fights, Doctor, 
than you ever heard of ; and I got a hurt once, 
worse than all those you have mentioned put 
together.” 

“What fight was that ? ” 

“A dog- fight.” 

“Tell us about it,” said the doctor. 

“Well, I was a little boy then ; I think it was 
about the time my mother died. I was six or 
seven years old. One day some neighbors 
came to our house and stayed to dinner. There 
were so many of them that they crowded out 
some of us children, and we had to wait for the 
second table. So, to keep us quiet, they gave 
us bread-and-butter with jam on it, and sent us 
off. It was summer time. I was bare-footed 
and the doors were all open. I went to the 
back door— which had a couple of steps outside 
leading down to the ground — and stood in it 
eating my snack. We had a big brindle ‘cur- 
dog,’ kept on the place for handling stock, a 
savage brute; but I was never afraid of any 
animal, much less of a dog I knew as well as I 
did this one. Well, ‘Jim,’ — that was his name, 
— came and stood in front of me at the foot of 
the steps, which brought his head about on a 
level with my feet, and within easy reach. His 
mouth was open and tongue hanging out as he 


T 74 


JOE SAXTON 


stood there looking and panting. I ordered 
him away several times ; but as he did not go, 
I hauled off with my right foot and kicked him 
in the jaw. I didn’t get that foot back, though, 
for some time ; and it has scars on it yet. He 
yanked me down those steps and dragged me 
out into the yard, shaking the foot like a rat. 
When he did let go, and was about to fasten on 
to my throat, as I lay on the ground, the people 
had got there. Lord ! It makes me shudder 
now ; when I think of it.” 

“Yes,” said the listener, in a quiet tone, 
“that sort of thing is apt to leave a lasting 
impression, especially when it occurs early in 
life. But,” he added, “what became of the 
dog?” 

“O! poor Jim had to go. Being unkind to 
children is as bad almost in a dog as killing 
sheep, though he was not to blame. But do 
you know, Doctor, to this day, if a girl has one 
of those little lap-dogs that thinks it smart to 
bark and snap at people, I have no use for the 
woman .” 

“I can understand it, I think,” said the doc- 
tor; who seemed to have no further questions 
to ask. 

When Kosaku returned from his trip up the 
lake, inquiring about the road from the temple 


IN JAPAN. 


1 7S 


back into the mountains, where the girl’s uncle 
lived, he was able to make a very gratifying 
report. 

He had not only found out the road, but 
been to the house, and had seen the man and 
his wife. 

It seems they had no children, though they 
had been married fifteen years; and were 
thinking of adopting a son, to look after them 
in their old age, and keep up the family, accord- 
ing to the universal custom in Japan in such 
cases. In fact, there may be something in the 
laws requiring this course of action. 

When the situation of the girl was explained 
to them, the couple were delighted at the good 
fortune which had brought them one of their 
own blood relations ; and they were anxious to 
take the girl and marry her to some good man ; 
and this they said would answer all purposes, as 
well as if she were their own daughter. 

Kosaku also reported that near the house 
there was a good road, leading one way to the 
Copper Mines, and the other to the Springs. 
The one, however, from the temple to the house 
could scarcely be called a road at all ; being 
only a path which had once been cut out to 
enable the people to visit the temple on the 
lake to make offerings. 


17 6 


JOE SAXTON 


This trail had been washed out in places, and 
was over-grown with brush, being traveled only 
occasionally ; but it was still practicable for per- 
sons on foot. 

When the time came to take the trip, the 
girl’s foot being almost well, — though she was 
still unable to sit on it, and limped a little in 
walking, — the journey was made. . 


XXIX. 


getting into the sampan the morning 
of the start across and up the lake, 
the girl held on to Saxton’s hand with 
a grip that was painful ; and when she let go, it 
was to drop down on her hands and knees in 
the bottom of the boat, where she remained 
until it was well under way and all steady. She 
then straightened up, holding on to Joe’s knee, 
as he sat near on an extemporized seat, made 
by placing a board across the boat. 

When they had sculled out into the lake and 
gained some distance from the sheltering 
mountains, a gentle breeze sprang up,, and as it 
came from the right direction, they took advant- 
age of it and hoisted the sail. Soon they were 



IN JAPAN. 


177 


going along at a speed rendering the use of the 
oar unnecessary, and impracticable for anything 
more than steering. 

This the girl could not understand, and call- 
ing Joe’s attention to the boatman’sl action — or 
rather to his seeming lack of action — more than 
intimated that he was shirking his duty. 

During the whole trip the girl scarcely looked 
at the water. When she was not looking into 
Joe’s laughing face as he talked, her gaze was 
fixed upon the bordering mountains. When- 
ever any one moved so as to rock the boat, 
even a very little, her hand would close on Joe’s 
knee like a vise. Still, she seldom uttered a 
sound. 

At last they arrived at the little gravelly 
beach at the north end of the lake, near the 
temple in the woods. Here they ate their 
lunch, and Joe took a couple of pictures. Or 
rather, Joe took one and Kosaku the other. 

On starting into the forest, they left every- 
thing in the boat except a couple of small 
bundles, done up in colored cloths, tied by the 
corners, and containing things belonging to the 
girl. Kosaku carried one of these and Joe the 
other. The girl also had a small package 
which she never let out of her hand. 


178 


JOE SAXTON 


The Young Bamboo was dressed in the suit 
that she wore when they started from the river. 
It, however, had been washed and mended, 
while they stayed at the hotel waiting for her 
foot to get well. 

A large tract of land around Lake Chuzenji 
is held in reserve by the government, for the 
mines, timber and game; with the last of which 
it is well stocked, and which is carefully pre- 
served. 

The trail leading back from the temple 
reminded Saxton of one in Washington, near 
Fort Canby, before it was opened up anew by 
Captain Louis and his men at that post. It 
was overgrown, through a thickly wooded coun- 
try, and as Joe went along, stooping under 
branches and parting bushes with his stick and 
hands while feeling for the path with his feet, 
he said to himself, 

‘‘Little did I expect to travel a ‘ Rodgers 
Trail 9 in Japan.” 

Out in the woods he could hear, once in a 
while, the drumming of the pheasant cock ; and 
one or two flew up from near the trail as they 
passed along. In several places he saw deer 
tracks; and in one part of the trail — sure 
enough ! — there was an old track of a bear. 
O! how he wished for a gun. Not that there 
# 


IN JAPAN. 


179 


was the slightest danger of meeting a bear, but 
the sight of the track was sufficient to awaken 
all the instincts of the adventurous hunter. 

Saxton soon took the lead, as he was always 
sure to do before traveling very far, even with 
Indians for his companions on a trail. They 
had started out with Kosaku in front, as he 
had been over the road once before. 

The sight of the tracks, and other signs and 
sounds of game, had the effect of making Sax- 
ton involuntarily creep along, in certain places, 
like a cat, carefully avoiding all shaking of 
bushes or trampling on twigs likely to break 
and snap. The stick he had cut for a cane was 
held in his hand “at the balance/’ like a gun, 
“muzzle to the front.” In fact, he was for the 
time the typical hunter ; anxious to see, even if 
he could not kill everything that might cross 
his path. Had he been armed at that time, 
and one of the Emperor’s pet deer jumped 
within range, there is little doubt of what the 
consequences would have been. 

They were traveling along, Joe in front, 
closely followed by the girl, Kosaku being some 
distance behind, when the path led out into a 
little opening, which would be called “a clear- 
ing” in America; although it seemed to have 


i8o 


JOE SAXTON 


always been clear, as there- were no stumps or 
other signs of recent cutting down of timber. 

In this field, — which was on the side of a hill. 
— three little thatched houses could be seen. 
Joe had scarcely entered this opening and taken 
in the view — the girl several yards behind him, 
and Kosaku still further back in the woods — 
when he heard the savage, prolonged growl of 
a beast, bent on attack. At the same time he 
caught sight of a good-sized mountain dog com- 
ing down the path toward him. 

Joe stopped short, and involuntarily took a 
half-step backwards. Seeing which, the dog 
came right on, without a pause, and made a 
grab for his leg. Joe jumped backwards, 
avoiding the bite, at the same time striking the 
dog with the stick with all his strength. As 
might have been expected, the stick broke, and 
the blow only served to anger the animal more 
than ever. At the next spring of the dog, 
Saxton gave one kick with his foot, and then 
turned and ran. As he did so, the dog fastened 
on him, and in trying to get 'away, Joe nearly 
ran over the girl, a short distance down the 
path. She was stooping down at the time, and 
straightening up as Joe passed, she struck the 
dog with a club she had picked up. The dog’s 


IN JAPAN. 


181 


hold tearing loose at that instant, he left Joe 
and turned his attention to the girl. 

Joe ran a few yards further, and finding him- 
self free, and meeting Kosaku running up the 
path, he stopped and looked around. He was 
paralyzed at what he saw. The girl and dog 
were engaged in deadly combat. As soon as 
he could realize anything, he saw, to his aston- 
ishment, that the girl was not only holding her 
own, but actually forcing the fight. She was 
dodging about like a cat, and managing to 
deliver about two blows with her club for every 
grab the dog made; and the dog was giving 
ground. 

Before Kosaku could take in the situation, 
secure a stick and reach the combatants, the 
dog had turned and was going up the path, the 
girl following closely behind him. She got in 
one last blow on the dog’s rump, which seemed 
to do away entirely with his tail, so closely was 
it driven down between his legs. 

As the girl walked back to where Joe stood 
in the path, she found him trembling in every 
limb, his face as white as a sheet. She dropped 
her club and came up to him, her eyes blazing 
with fire and her face a picture of mingled rage 
and solicitude. She placed her hands upon his 
arms above the elbows and looked up into his 


182 


JOE SAXTON 


face. Joe made a sickly attempt to laugh. But 
as she looked at him, all the blaze seemed to 
fade from her eyes, and there came instead the 
tears of pity. 

Uttering some gentle words, such as a nurse 
might use to a frightened child, she took hold 
of his sleeve with her left hand, and turning 
him partly around, carefully searching for pos- 
sible evidence of a wound, she said, with evident 
relief: 

“No blood adding, “dog-bite sometimes 
make very sick, if he is angry, in summer- 
time.” 

Then taking Joe by the hand she led him 
away. She soon released him, however, to 
pick up her club, when they came to the place 
where she had dropped it. And thus they 
went along, the girl and Joe having changed 
positions in the file, while Kosaku followed 
close behind. 

The girl limped now more than before ; but 
still walked with firmness in her step. 

Thus they passed through the opening in a 
little bamboo picket fence, which surrounded a 
small house, out of which, and across the yard, 
came a couple, with smiles of kindly greeting. 


IN JAPAN. 


183 

The news of the sinking of the litis was a 
shock both to Kosaku and Joe Saxton, when 
they learned of it on their return to Tokyo. 
Their grief reached its full depth when they 
found that she was the only German man-of- 
war at that time cruising in the China Sea ; for 
they realized the fact that it was aboard of her 
that Carl Steinberg had received his last assign- 
ment to duty. He had found his burial in the 
greatest of all graves with the kind-hearted 
father of the Young Bamboo. 

Joe Saxton never listens to the howl of the 
storm without believing that he can hear the 
voice of Carl Steinberg as he bravely led in 
the German national anthem, while far from 
home and country, the noble ship sank in the 
Oriental waters. 


THE END. 



JOE SAXTON 

I N 


JAPAN. 


A STORY OF THE EAST AND THE WEST 


D. A. Selden, M. D. 

Author of Letters from Japan. 


Baltimore: 

The Deustch Company, Printers, 
1897. 




























%/A- '% * 



^0" '-O o’ 

-> •■ . 9 *x‘V'* V "'*” v'* 




c 5 ^ 

V v - ^vx \I * v> X-<> U 

& » 25 ~i O.V - y ^SU#”*^ \ 

%'”* ’•* /,-•/•'/'**'' a\ A 
° 6 » . •* -f ■'* < 


* N ,0° ~<b, % * o,' 

*'** '* '^ v y y * 0 

^ «*» , ^ 



*>■ 

o 

/ 

✓« 




r ,#■ <v » v/ 



C i i 

» % / * ' 


' A ^ 

a r* < 



- i-A.-. , 

a V I B t '%+ * 0 * * * ^01 

■> ^ s'/rnli °o c° v <1 

<* <** > * #£Taf.«* * °b o x ° 1 

^ : «* ^ * I 

> * ‘W~". x ' c <) c* ^ , y ^ *\ 

. V <*> * « M* ^9* 'O. * . .. « 9 o> 

\/ 




vV V 

c 7 v ° - * \ 

- - 

y °*^ * 6 * 


3 N 0 J * 

*,"% V »’>*», ->I 

* ^ aV 

cr* ,CV 


0 * S s ^ y o * y * ^ <* v * 



aV c 0 N c * '<?. 

O o x ! ' 







V, N o’ X # vo *>' * * • '* S - , ^ * 3 H°; 

'* A t Y. <A " * %V. AV 


=» c A 

- V v *hc. 

a ^v 

° ^ A U 0 N c # 

rP * c _^ % 



Wm*P : © o 

< 0 * 3 o5 ^ " 

^ > NA ^;, * 

<* c ► cK. ^ 

^ - 3 H°’ \* * 8 I A* ' ^ 

s * * r *>. V V - ' * 0 ' x 


/ < -“♦T'^s' A 

A 0 N t . '<P * * , V ,1 1 * j 

0 • — V 4 
* * 




. „ * , ' * 0 N 0 

.0 V ' . ''/ C U 



• I 







